SHIPS IDLE

Taranaki Daily News, 14 July 1925, Page 7

SHIPS IDLE

DEADLOCK IN AUSTRALIA. ALL COASTAL BOATS STOP. CREWS LEAVE STEAMERS. EXTENSION OF TROUBLE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—CopfrlgH. Received July 14, 12,55 a.m. Sydney, July .13. The Seamen’s Union has instructed its members not to man any inter-State or coastal vessels requiring crews. They have extended the deadlock to all companies trading on the Australian coast, and all ships will automatically be tied up as they reach port. When the Howard Smith steamer Cooma arrived the men gave notice and the ship was tied up indefinitely. Calls were made for men to replace the crew tut they were futile. The erews of two of the North Coast Company’s steamers also gave notice and efforts to replace them were unavailing. Until a settlement is reached no crews will be forthcoming for any but Commonwealth Line steamers. A strong section of the Seamen’s Union favour making the fight a general one and including this lino. Burns, Philp and Company have also been declared "black,” although they agreed to the men’s terms. This decision was reached because a section of the Seamen’s Union executive believes the company is bound up financially with the inter-State companies. The transport group of unions met and adjourned until Tuesday, when the result of the conference of owners at Melbourne may be known. CONFERENCE OF OWNERS. SAFEGUARDING INTERESTS. NO FINALITY REACHED. Received July 14, 12.55 a.m. Melbourne, July 13. A conference of the Commonwealth Shipowners’ Association, attended by owners from other States outside the association, has commenced with the object of ensuring that the terms of the settlement of the shipping dispute will be acceptable to all shipowners. Beyond issuing a statement that more ships were being laid up and that the immediate safeguarding of the owners’ interests will be the leading feature of the conference no announcement was made. The conference sat till a late hour without reaching finality. A mass meeting of seamen decided to give twenty-four hours’ notice on Tuesday on vessels at home ports belonging to owners not granting the guarantee clause.