SERIOUS TURN

Stratford Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 66, 11 September 1925, Page 5

SERIOUS TURN

SEAMEN IMPR3SOMED.

"PRISON BEFORE SLAVERY

THE POSITION IN" AUSTRALIA. Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, September 10. The strikers met at the Town Hall to-day, posting pickets at every entrance and outside, and excluding the Press. Sortly alter the meating commenced a strong force of police surrounded the building. The strikers' meeting decided not to assist the polios in any way and to' leave the hall in a body. Suddenly the men left the hall in a mass. The police, accompanied by ships' officers, dodged in among them, but their efforts proved futile. They made only one capture, J. T. Johnstone, chairman of the strike committee, and he was arrested inside the building. The police then departed. The situation looked ugly for some time and a serious conflict might easily have, been precipitated. A total of 353 more warrants was issued- to-day. At a meeting of seamen a resolution was passed requesting the Labor Government to repass immediately those seamen who received "this atrocious sentence." It was also resolved that no negotiations for a settlement of the strike should take place so long as any British seamen! were in gaol, and before any settlement can be reached all records of imprisonment and victimisation must be wiped out. Three seamen pleaded guilty to.continual wilful neglect of duty. Each was sentenced to twenty-one days' hard labour and to forfeit the wagea due to them at the rate of six: days' pay for every twenty-four hours neglect of duty. WALSH'S WRIT FOR SLANDER. Tom Walsh has issued a writ claiming £SOOO damages for alleged slander against Mr Lamb for statements uttered during the proceedings before the Deportation Board, where- Mr Lamb was counsel for the Crown.

A message from ' Adelaide states that a mjqrity of, the stewards on the Balranald and the > Ajscanius ceased work in sympathy' with tlie arrested men.. ■.' / ' .'•■:..• •...

Melbourne advises ■ that 250 British seamen marched through the city from the'union offices; to :s the ''city, court, headed by a banner inscribed: "Priso'n-- before slavery*"•' On ! -arrival at th-e, court they were sorted into batches and arrested. An arrangement was made with the police to save unpleasantness in the execution of the waVrarit's. An additional ' 246 warrants were issued to-day.

The president of the oversea strike committee, referring to the issue of warrants, said the effect would be to stiffen, the whole industrial movement iiV'feuyp^rt' of" i]i&; seamen I ."' He believed the dispute was settling down to a long protracted struggle, and tho laying 1 'lts- plans accordingly. §ll I■. vip'lh '?• TERMS OF IMPRISONMENT. „ r Before oi special court at Melbourne tnirty seamen were sentenced to three weeks' imprisonment; and;; ordered to forfeit'three days' pay,-six were sentenced to ten days' imprisonment and ordered to forfeit,two days' pay, and forty-orio were se;ii!eiice« to fourteen days' imprisonment with the forfeit of two days' pay. All were charged with wilful disobedience of a lawful command. One seaman will appear before the Children's Court as he i s un* der the age of sixteen. The 'strike officials state that the? have sufficient funds to keep all the strikers in Melbourne 'for a further three weeks. At Brisbane twenty-one warrants have been' issued against striking seamen.

Five more strikers in Sydney ou similar charges to those cabled previously, were sentenced to .seven days' imprisonment, the magistrate declining to order the forfeiture of wages.

ADVICE FROM LONDON

MEN SHOULD RESUME WO! Us.

London, September !)

The secretary of the .Seamen's Union has cabled the secretary of the Trades Council, Melbourne, emphasising that the retrospective clause in the articles was introduced in tbe seamen's interests, and strongly advising the men to resume work.

The Trade Union Congress cabled to the unions in Melbourne and South Africa disowning the strike.

RUAHINE'S CRBW GO ASHORE.

Wellington, Sept-ember 10

The crew of the New Zealand Shipping Company's Rualiine walked ashore to-night. The ship was s>hc.itly clue to sail for Auckland to begin) Homeward loading. SEAMEN PROSECUTED. CASES AT NEW PLYMOUTH. IMPRISONMENT AND FINES. For combining to impede the progress of their vessel, 28 members of the crew of the C. and D. steamer Port Dunedin were sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labor and ordered to forfeit six days' pay by Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M.. In the Magistrate's Court at Plymouth yesterday. » On charges of continued wilful disobedience of orders they were convicted and discharged. Six ship's boys from the same vessel were convicted, ordered to forfeit six clays' pay and also ordered to be returned to the Port Dunedin. The actions are among the first

tc be taken throughout New Zealand against the striking crews of the British vessels now in Dominion waters. Considerable interest was manifested in the cases, the court being crowded. Included in the spectators were some w<ho interrupted the proceedings with laughter, causing the magistrate to remark that if it continued he would clear the court. This he did when one of the crowd whistled while sentence v/as being passed. Prior to the hearing the strikers from both of the overseas vessels in port, the Port Dunedin and the Dorset, marched in column of fours through the streets to the court bearing a variety of placards. Taxis conveyed the 28 men sentenced to the prison after the court rose.

The.men charged we: G. Bremner, F. Cribb, P. Carron, R. Connolly, R. Chadfield, D. de Goode, C. Dennis, L. Edwards, W. Durrant, C. Green, M. Graham, E. Hunt, D. Hayes, T. G. Likeman, N. MacDonald, J. McKie, D. MacLeod, J. Murray, E. Monagle, J. Maclvor, P. A. Phillips, W. H. Porter, T. E. Richmond, T. Sey, J. K. Smy, J. Smith, L. P. Ward, W. Tipton. The ship's < boys were: M. E. Curran, K. McEwen, H. O'Keefe, F. J. Thbume, A. W. Todman and W. Venderhoven. Mr G. G. G. Watson appeared for the shipping company and Mr P. O'Dea for the defendants, who pleaded not guilty. All the cases were taken together.

SUMMONSES AT LYTTELTON. Christchurch, September 10. Summonses are being issued, against 92 members of the crew of the Hororata at present on strike at Lyttelton on a charge of combining to impede the progress of the vessel. PROCESSION OF SEAMEN. MINISTER INTERVIEWED LATE AT NIGHT.

(Received 10.25 a.m.) Sydney, September 11

Striking seamen and sympathisers, about two hundred strong, marched from the Communist Hail to the residence of Mr McKell, Minister for Justice, late last night. They desired to obtain from Mr McKell an assurance as to the treatment that would be accorded British seamen imprisoned on charges of neglecting duty. After a conversation with Mr McKell, who was roused from a sick bed, at his front door, the men's leaders retired, stating that Mr McKell had given very satisfactory assurances. The men evinced much satisfaction, re-formed the procession and marched back to town. The proceedings were perfectly orderly.