IDLE STEAMERS

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1935, Page 5

IDLE STEAMERS

NO CHANGE IN STRIKE MORE SHIPS MADE “BLACK” MARAMA LEAVES SYDNEY POLICE GUARD THE WHARF GOVERNMENT’S ATTITUDE By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 10 p.m. Sydney, Aug. 15. The fleet of idle steamers at Sydney was augmented this afternoon when the crew of the inter-State passenger liner Ormiston handed in their notices. After a special meeting of the Newcastle branch of the Seamen’s Union the secretary stated that the meeting almost unanimously decided to declare “black all ships of the Australian Steamship Owners’ Federation. Police and Union Company officials guarded the wharf entrance prior to the Marama’s departure for Wellington today. Only passengers numbering 400 and those with business aboard were allowed to approach the vessel. There was no untoward incident.

Mr. G. W. Forbes, Mr. Debuchi (Japanese goodwill missioner), the Maori footballers and the New Zealand women’s hockey team were among the passengers on the Marama, which sailed at 4 30 p.m. The seamen did not hold a meeting at Sydney to-day but they are to meet tomorrow. There were no other developments along the waterfront to-day

Senator Brennan, acting-Attorney-General, said at Melbourne to-day that the Government did not intend to make any move to end the strike until it was absolutely necessary. He added that the fact that Melbourne seamen were taking an independent attitude was a hopeful sign and indicated that they were not prepared to allow themselves to be stampeded by the extremist element at Sydney. The Federal Ministry justified its attitude by the belief that precipitate action would embitter the men and prolong the dispute. The Melbourne Trades Hall disputes committee to-day had a conference with delegates from 14 unions which are likely to be involved in the strike. Mr. W. Clarke, general president of the Federated Seamen’s Union, was present. The conference decided to deal with the dispute on a Federal basis in order to -protect the interests of the whole industrial movement, and to recommend that it be handled by an emergency committee of the Council of Trades Unions.

Mr. Clarke, commenting on the decision later, said the procedure recommended was unlikely to assist a settlement. Another inter-State freighter, the Craigend, owned by James Patrick, was drawn into the strike at Sydney this evening, while the freighter Goulboum was laid up at Melbourne. • The total number of vessels now idle is 18.

It is reported that an effort is being made by the Communist element among the seamen to involve the colliers which are under contract to supply coal from Newcastle to the Sydney Gas Coy.

The Sydney Trades and Labour Council to-night pledged its moral and financial support for the seamen on strike, but the Marine Stewards’ Union is holding aloof.