MARITIME STRIKE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19485, 9 May 1933, Page 6

MARITIME STRIKE

CONFERENCE HELD BY PARTIES

EFFORTS TO EFFECT SETTLEMENT By TeleKr&Dh—F*resa Associßtlon WELLINGTON, May 8. The maritime dispute remains unsettled, although a move towards settlement has been made. Nearly thirty coastal and overseas vessels were in port to-day. There was practically no movement except in the inter-island ferries. The most important development took place this 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 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. TEN MORE BOATS TIED UP. SEVEN OF NORTHERN COMPANY. By Association AUCKLAND, May 8. The seamen’s dispute resulted in 10 vessels being rendered idle in 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 of the Northern Company’s ships, which were to have sailed for coastal ports during the day. WATERSIDERS TAKE HAND. POLICE CHECK LAWLESSNESS. By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, May 8. 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. A 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 peering into taxis on entering the wharf gates looking for volunteer labourers for the Nelson boat Arahura. The police checked the attempt at assault. There will be no boat for Nelson tonight. The Arahura is set down for the usual trip to-morrow evening. This morning a Unionist seaman and a 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, the police dispersed a crowd of men waiting outside the wharf gates. NORTHERN COMPANY INVOLVED. By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND. May 8. The crews of the Union steamers Kanna and Waimea were both given notice of dismissal to-day, also the crew of the Tiroa, which is in the East Coast service. Several of the Northern Company’s vessels scheduled to sail this morning had not sailed at 1 o'clock, and it is reported that the crews have been given notice. NO CHANGE AT DUNEDIN. By Telegraph -Press Association DUNEDIN, May 8. The local position in respect to the shipping dispute underwent no change to-day. The three ships affected—the Waipiata, the Storm and the Tees—are now manned only by officers and engineers. The crew of the Tees were paid off to-day. She joined the idle Waipiata and Storm. ECHO IN POLICE COURT. CHARGES OF ASSAULT AND MISCHIEF. By Telegraph- Press Association WELLINGTON. May 8. Several cases which were 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 before Mr E. Page. S.M. Four charges related to assaults, and one concerned an attempt to cast adrift the tug Natone. Patrick Joseph Ryan (26 >. labourer, pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting Ned Peko. Ryan was fined £5. and ordered to pay Court costs. He was allowed two weeks in which to find the money. Spencer Leo Parsloe (33), fireman, was remanded until May 17th. on charges of assaulting Robert Renkin, and of attempting to cast adrift the tug Natone. Accused pleaded 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 (27), seaman, and Adolph Frederick Hansen (46>. seaman. Both accused were remanded until Wednesday. bail in the sum of £lO, with one surety of £lO. being allowed. Mr F. W. Ongley, who appeared for 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. YOUNG MAN ATTACKED. ACCUSED OF SCABBING. By Telegraph- Pr®s» Association WELLINGTON. May 8. A young Englishman, who recently came from Palmerston North seeking work on the waterfront, was the sub- | ject of a brutal attack by six men near

the Central Post Office, to-day. A large number of people 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 a gang stopped him, asking him his business. On receiving no answer they threateningly called him a scab. One of them struck him. and as he stepped back another struck from the rear. Then he vu . knocked to the ground and brutal!;, kicked. When the attackers dispersed the victim was taken to his lodgings at the Y.M.C.A , and his bruises were attended to. Later he recovered sufficiently to return home to Palmerston.