COMMUNIST ORIGIN

Southland Times, Issue 19690, 24 October 1925, Page 7

COMMUNIST ORIGIN

THE SEAMEN’S STRIKE REMARKABLE ALLEGATIONS BY SHIPOWNERS HISTORY OF THE MOVEMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, October 23. The London office of a Sydney firm forwarded a statement by Mr Laws, generalmanager of the Shipping Federation, wherein he says it is clear that the whole attack by the seamen is of Communist origin. From the time the reduction of wages was arranged until nearly a month later no protesting voice was raised anywhere. Then Communist meetings commenced to be held at London. None of the speakers was a seaman and very few seamen were in the audiences. The attack succeeded to the extent of frightening the men of a certain ship not to sign articles, and the trouble then extended. The nature of the pressure brought to bear on the men was shown by the fact that in some instances njen who refused to sign on at one port took train to another port and signed on there. The leaders of the movement in Australia and England are know’n to be Communists. MORE GENTLENESS. SYDNEY, October 23. A further batch of British seamen, the majority of whom have already served terms of imprisonment, were sentenced to a further fourteen days’ imprisonment for continued wilful disobedience. SEAMEN’S UNION MEETS AGAIN. STORMY PROCEEDINGS. SUPPORT TO BE CONTINUED. SYDNEY, October 23. J. A. Johnson, chairman of the British Seamen’s Strike Committee, who was a greaser on the steamer Tairoa, charged with continued neglect of duty, was sentenced till the rising of the court and ordered to pay £2 7/6. The court rose a minute later. The Seamen’s Union met further to consider the strike position. The meeting was protracted and at times the proceedings were very turbulent and angry. It is understood the most important decision reached was one forbidding the manning or working of colliers listed to coal overseas’ ships involved in the dispute. This embargo is also to apply to the supply of coal or oil fuel to supply depots. The latter part of the decision will affect oil-burning steamers of all lines, including the Union Company. The steamer Commorin arrived to-day from London. She came direct from Adelaide. NO VOLUNTEERS SIGNED ON. UNION CIRCLES FAVOUR SETTLEMENT MELBOURNE, October 23. Although there has been a good response to the call for volunteer labour to man ships no one signed on, applicants’ names being noted for future reference. There is now a pronounced view in union circles that steps should be taken to terminate the strike, and it is likely during the next week union officials and leaders of the Labour Party will insist on the seamen returning to ships independently of the’ terms which may be offered by the owners. Indications are that unions will withdraw financial support from the strikers,' in which event the early collapse of the strike will be inevitable.