SHIPPING DEADLOCK.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16630, 9 January 1925, Page 5

SHIPPING DEADLOCK.

the new bureau, consternation caused. (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) SYDNEY, Jan. B.' Consternation has been caused in local shipping circles over the establishment of the new labor bureau, as, if the owners apply there for men, they will be committing a breach of the agreement reached at the recent conference, while, if they ignore the bureau, the State Government, in view of Sir G: Fuller’s announcement that lie will stand firmly behind the Preference Act, is certain to take action, which will force the* owpers to observe the State law. A special conference has been convened for to-morrow between the oversea representatives, inter-State owners, coastal owners, the Government and Union representatives with a view ; to arriving at a settlement. Coastal companies have agreed to use the Union rooms a 6 a picking up place and their vessels are now working. But there is no change in the inter-State position. It is stated that -if the shipowners in Sydney apply to the new bureau' for men the Waterside Workers’ Federation will instruct its members in other ports to regard the ships so loaded as "black.” HOBART, Jan. 8. Until the shipping trouble is over the destroyer Huon will be commissioned to carry mails to Sydney. The H-uon is at present on the "Hobart station as a training ship. NEW DEVELOPMENTS.

MANY MEN SEEK WORK. BUT FAIL TO' WAIT. MARINE ENGINEERS RAISE . DIFFICULTY. (Received January 9, 11 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Jan. 9. A large number of seamen assembled at the Mercantile Marine office, seeking employment. The shipowners decided to pick up men at 4 in the afternoon. After waiting all the morning arid most of the afternoon, the men left before that hour. It is stated . that at' 3 o’clock the thoroughfare was, alinost blocked by seamen. A constable' appeared and ordered the men to move. on. The order was resented, and 1 the position explained to the constable, who consulted the marine office. The men wore informed that the yard at the back of the office was available for their accommodation. However, when the masters of vessels requiring crews arrived, the men had disappeared. A new development is brought about by tho announcement of the Marine Engineers’ Institute that its members could not leave the ships to pick up men at the marine office. If its members were required to pick up labor on behalf of their ships the men would have to be brought to the ships. ... The dispute, as far as Melbourne is concerned, has now reached a stage when any day might see a, settlement or a more hopeless situation be created 1 . SHORTAGE OF PRODUCE IN THE WEST. (Received Janunrv 9, 11 a.m.) PERTH, Jan. 9. Tho wholesale produce merchants view with alarm the ‘ threatened cessation of inter-State shipping. They, declare tha-t if shipping should be entirely suspended 1 there will be a famine in some lines within a few weeks. In normal times between six hundred and eight hundred thousand pounds sterling worth of . goods come from the Eastern States monthly, consisting mainly of dairy produce and sugar.