MOVE AT LAST

Southland Times, Issue 22010, 9 May 1933, Page 8

MOVE AT LAST

SHIPPING HOLD-UP OWNERS AND UNIONS CONFER COMMITTEE FORMED (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, May 8. The maritime dispute remains unsettled although a move towards settlement has been made. Nearly 30 coastal and overseas vessels were in port today. There was practically no movenfcnt except in the inter-Islaftd ferry service. The most important development took place in the afternoon, when a conference, called at the request of the Alliance of Labour, was attended by representatives of the Alliance, the Seamen’s Union, the Cooks’ and Stewards’ Union and the Shipowners’ Federation. Shortly after proceedings had commenced, a committee of not more than five representatives of each side was set up to endeavour to find an “angle of approach” leading to a settlement of the dispute. The committee met for several hours and adjourned until nine o’clock to-morrow. The watersiders this morning refused to unload the motorship Holmglen, which arrived from Lyttelton on Saturday evening, under her officers and engineers. Another attempt was made on Saturday evening to set the tug Natone adrift. The rope was cut, but the men were seen and disappeared. Three men coming from the office of Messrs T. and W. Young, agents for the Nelson ferry service, were threatened by a number of men, who were peering into taxis entering the wharf gates looking for volunteer labourers for the Nelson ferry boat Arahura. The police checked an attempt at assault. There will be no boat for Nelson tonight. The Arahura is set down for her usual trip to-morrow evening. This morning a Unionist seaman and volunteer labourer were arrested by the police on an allegation of fighting during the week-end. The police kept out-of-work seamen off the wharves after the arrival of the Tamahine from Picton on Saturday evening, and dispersed a crowd of men waiting outside the wharf gates. A BRUTAL ASSAULT YOUNG MAN ATTACKED. (Per United Press Association.) ■Wellington, May 8. A young Englishman, who recently came from Palmerston North, seeking work on the- waterfront, was the subject of a brutal attack by six men near the Central Post Office to-day. A large number were about at the time, but none gave assistance until the attackers dispersed. It is believed that the object of the attack was connected with the shipping dispute. The victim of the assault was walking across the street when the gang stopped him, asking him his business. Receiving no answer, they threateningly called him a “scab.” One then struck him and, as he stepped back, another struck from the rear. He was then knocked to the ground and brutally kicked. When the attackers dispersed the victim was taken to his lodgings in the Y.M.C.A., where his bruises were attended to. Later he had recovered sufficiently to return home to Palmerston. CASES IN COURT ALLEGATIONS BY POLICE. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, May 8 Several cases alleged by the police to have arisen out of the present seamen’s strike came up for hearing in the Magistrate’s Court to-day befo'-o Mr E. Page, S.M. Four charges related to assaults and one concerned the attempt to cast adrift the tug Natone. Patrick Joseph Ryan, a labourer, aged 26, pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting Ned Peko Ryan and was fined £5 and ordered to pay Court costs. He was allowed two months in which to find the money. Spencer Leo Parsloe, a fireman, aged 33, was remanded until May 17 on charges of assaulting Robert Renkin and attempting to cast adrift the tug Natone. The accused not guilty. Bail in the sum of £75 was granted. ' Pleas of guilty to charges of drunkenness, but not guilty to a charge of assaulting Alfred Ernest Alexander Pickering were entered by Cyril James Sinclair, a seaman, aged 27, and Adolph Frederick Hausen, a seaman, aged 46. Both the accused were remanded until Wednesday, bail in the sum of £lO with one surety of-£lO, being allowed.

Mr F. W. Onglcy, who appeared for the accused, said that according to his instructions the charge of assault did not arise out of the shipping dispute. Sub-Inspector Martin said the police were satisfied that the charge did arise out of the seamen’s strike. TEN VESSELS IDLE POSITION AT AUCKLAND. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, May 8. The seamen’s dispute resulted in 10 vessels being rendered idle at Auckland to-day, in.addition to the Union Company’s Wingatui, the crew of which was paid off on Saturday afternoon. The vessels involved include seven Northern Company’s ships, which were to have sailed for coastal ports during the day. The crews of the Union Company s steamers Kanna and Waimea were both given notice of dismissal to-day and also the crew of the Tairoa, which is in the East Coast service. CREW PAID OFF the steamer tees. (Per United Press Association.) Dunedin, May 8. The crew of the steamer Tees was paid off to-day and she is joining the idle Waipiata and Storm. The local position underwent no change to-day. The three ships affected, the Waipiata, Storm and Tees, are now manned only by officers and engineers. SEAMEN FINED USE OF INSULTING LANGUAGE. (Per United Press Association.) Nelson, May 8. Two seamen, John Leslie Grindley and Basil Pocock, were each fined £3 for using insulting language 'on the wharf on Friday night prior to the departure of the Arahura. They were also ordered to enter into a recognizance to keep the peace for six months and to find one surety of £lO or, in default, to receive six months’ imprisonment.