THE STRIKE

Southland Times, Issue 20618, 17 October 1928, Page 5

THE STRIKE

SEAMEN’S ATTITUDE PEACEFUL POLICY OPPOSED LOAFERS AND INDUSTRIAL ANARCHISTS (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) Sydney, October 16. An inside view of the Seamen’s Union has been furnished the Herald by a member, who says industrial peace is impossible while the industry is conducted on present lines. Friday’s meeting of the union, which resulted in the delay of the Ulimaroa was called for the purpose of ascertaining the members’ attitude towards the watersiders’ dispute. After five hours’ acrimonious debate, heated interjections and scurrilous personalities it was decided that all the ships should be manned until the Australasian Council of Trades Unions and the waterside workers adopted a uniform policy, but it is a significant fact that a large majority strenuously opposed a peaceful policy. Though no principle was at stake howLs were frequently raised for a general strike and jeers greeted the plea that certain ships be exempted from the proposed struggle on the ground that their crews would be sacrificed in vain. A general stoppage was indeed a near thing and it was hopeless for the community to expect consideration or peace from an organization which treats its own members so callously. Only the influence and eloquence of the officials and certain members after a hard struggle persuaded the rank and file that a strike under such circumstances would be sheer insanity. The correspondent blames the general pick-up system under which hundreds of men congregate and the idlers are frequently harangued by foreigners with synthetic names flourishing red handkerchiefs. They are upon the union books, hut have no seamen’s discharges. Added to these are the mob orators from the domain and the Communists. One German agitator has not been to sea for 20 years. AH these are capable of leaving idle men mesmerised and ready for any mischief and they do. The shipping industry is overcrowded and millions sterling are lost annually to the community through insensate strikers. The remedy should lie in selecting the few thousand men required, licensing them and guaranteeing more constant employment ; also letting loafers and industrial anarchists find other occupations.—Australian Press Association. TROUBLE AT NEWCASTLE. WATERSIDERS ATTACK VOLUNTEERS. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, October 15. The storm centre of the waterside trouble appeared at Newcastle to-day when a clash occurred between strikers and volunteers who had been working on the wharves. A big crowd, finding a party of volunteers greatly inferior in number working the steamer Port Campbell, attacked them with metal and stones. The free labourers were forced to take the defensive till the arrival of the police who dispersed the rioters. A man had his face injured by a boat hook.—Australian Press Association. ACTION BY GOVERNMENT. (Rec. 9.10 p.m.l Melbourne, October 16. The Federal Attorney-General, Mr Latham, has telegraphed to the secretary of the Geelong branch of the Stevedores' Association asking whether their members intended to carry on the strike. If so the Government would take appropriate action to meet the position.—Australian Press Association. THE END IN SIGHT. (Rec. 9.10 p.m.) Melbourne, October 16. It is regarded as extremely likely that the strike, so far as Melbourne is concerned, will be declared off to-morrow. A mass meeting of the Port Phillip Association and the Melbourne Wharf Labourers’ Union has been called when the men will be recommended by their own officials to register under the Transport Act and resume work. A secret ballot of the watersiders will also be taken. Victorian seamen declined to become embroiled and have supplied men for the Union Company’s Waiotapu and the Tasmanian steamer Nairau.— Australian Press Association. VOLUNTEERS LOCKED LN SHED. POLICE CHAJtGE STRIKERS. (Rec. 9.10 p.m.) Sydney, October 16. Later details of the Newcastle clash show that 150 volunteers were driven into the cargo shed by 15 police. The volunteers were locked inside for their own protection. The strikers gradually drifted away, but later attacked the volunteers on the steamer Golden Kauri. The police charged with batons and felled nearly 20 strikers and sympathizers, all of whom received hospital treatment. The police are now determined to prevent a repetition by remaining in larger numbers along the wharves. —Australian Press Association. PREFERENCE EMPLOYMENT. (Rec. 1.10 a.m.) Melbourne, October 16. If, as anticipated, the watersiders declare the strike off to-morrow union officials are hopeful that preference employment will ultimately be given to original members of the Watersiders’ Federation. The shipowners have made it plain that volunteers who took the stevedores’ places will continue to in that capacity. Another procession of about 800 strikers and unemployed marched through the city to-day to Yarra Bank headed by a Red Soviet banner bearing the words “No surrender.”—Australian Press Association. ASSISTANCE FROM MOSCOW. EYES ON NEW ZEALAND. London, October 15. The Riga correspondent of The Times reports that a special sitting of the executive bureau of the Profintern considered the “present revolutionary situation in connection with the new strike wave,” and what chances were advisable in the methods to be employed to stimulate the strike movement, in Australia and elsewhere. The financial report states that Moscow has already sent the Australian strikers £9OOO. A great part of the sitting was devoter to considering the prospects in New Zealand. where the most revolutionary elements are concentrated in the sailors and the miners’ unions, which for several years have maintained relations, and it is now hoped wall affiliate with the Profintern.—Times Cables.