GERMAN STEAMERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3556, 9 May 1922, Page 29

GERMAN STEAMERS

WELCOMED BY SYDNEY AVHARFIES. (From Gub Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, April 26. There is no likelihood that Sydney wharf labourers will object to handle the cargoes of German steamers, which will begin to arrive in Australia in a few months’ time. On the contrary, the arrival of the German steamers oh the Sydney water-front will be welcomed by wharf labourers—among them many ex-soldiers. According to the men the position is too serious for them to pick and choose. There are at present 5000 idle on -the water-front including many returned soldiers. Some of them have been out of decent work since 1917. Apart from the additional work, many of the wharf labourers believe that when the German merchandise is dumped here, it will be sold so cheaply that local prices will have to come down. There is a section of the deep-sea wharfies employed on a permanent basis, and in the past they have been able to do practically all the lumping. In addition to these mien there are 1-000 casuals, many of whom have not averaged during the last 12 months more than a few shillings a week. Many ex-diggers are numbered among their ranks, and they have not the slightest hesitation in saying that, for the sake of their bread and butter they will do what their mates are doing in other parts of the world —unload German ships.