THE SYDNEY STRIKE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10956, 26 April 1907, Page 2

THE SYDNEY STRIKE.

NEW ZEALAND TRADERS AFFECTED.

(Press Assn.— By Telegraph.— Copyright.) SYDNEY, April 25. The steamer Banffshire, en route from Brisbane to Sydney, intended to call at Newcastle for coal. Enquiries by the agents of the vessel disclosed tliat the Banffshire had been placed under ban by *\. the Newcastle trimmers, and uha therefore * .comes on to Sydney for coal. Strike matters are quiet. Tlie strikers round the employers bureau and the ships coaling lire much fewer and less demonstrative. Free laborers are allowed to pass almost unnoticed. The Coal Lumpers' Union is making overtures to the Seamen's and Wharf Laborers' Unions to join issue In carrying on the struggle. At a meeting of lumpers to-day Mr Wat win was present and discussed the situation. It is reported that the mooting lavored a conference with the employers, with a view to arriving at a settlement. A meeting of the shipowners' and the Seamen s Onion has been arranged for tomm row, whqn affairs relating to the strike will be considered. The action of the French mini steamer Paeifique coaling, with her Arijb- crew and the Peninsular Company's India with her own crew, will be ennuii'Ed into. ; Tlie Tyser 4eamer Niwaru, which should have sailed -for New Zealand to-day, was delayed. It Is stated that she was able to obtain only 1000, instead of the 2000 toiig required); A number of vessels are obtaining coal at Jkisbane. * The action »f the Newcastle trimmers in deciding not to work ships which usually coal in Sydney has given rise to an interesting point. Several shipping companies, including the Huddart, Parker Company iiave been sending some of their steamers to Newcastle for bunking and others to Sydney, out as the majority coaled at Newcastle at. one time or other it remains to be seen how the Newcastle trimmers' decision will apply in this case. (Received April 26, 8.42 a.m.) SYDNEY, April 26. The coal lumpers have issued an appeal to the unionists of Australia, asking tor sympathy and moral assistance, and urging them to do their utmost in preventing such an influx of laborers as miglit enable the employers, to succeed in their desire to crush the union. Delegates from the Lumpers' Union attended the Labor Council and explained the position, lit' was stated that the only obstacle in the way of settlement was tne removal of a stevedores' foreman, to wljom the lumpers object. The Council offered the services of their executive officers with a view to about ~n early settle; r ment. MELBOURNE. April 26. Sir John Forrest, after a Cabinet meeti ing, stated that correspondence in reference to the (tmploynunt of alien labor in i the coaling of ship, at Sydney liad been > considered. Amongst other oomplaints received Mr Watson wired that colored * laborers wed working on the colliers and coaling ships) in contravention of the Iml migration Restriction Act, adding : "No • objection is taken to them working on I their own »hj|)s, but we emphatically pro* 1 test against them working on colliers, th 9 latter being Commonwealth territory. If I this is permitted aliens may engage, ih any work ashore during the stay of a vessel at - "any port." |sir John Forrest, after in- ■ forming , Mr . Watson that it had been dei aided' in previous cases that crews working ! on their own ships wea* exempt from the Act, referred the matter to the AttorrieyGeneral, wild) gave the opinion that .> tne s present case could not be distinguished ' from previous cases, and that the erews ! were a„ing Under the orders of the captain in loading their ships in port, and : are not immigrants within the meaning of ■ the Act. ,'f . -::■ . .