STRIKERS CLEAR FREE LABOUR FROM VESSELS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18578, 28 September 1928, Page 5

STRIKERS CLEAR FREE LABOUR FROM VESSELS.

LARGE BAND RIOT AT PORT ADELAIDE. (United Pre»» A«»n. — By Electric Telegraph.— Copyright.) Adelaide, September 27. The watersiders took charge of Port Adelaide, marching in procession from the Trades Hall over Robinson’s Bridge, where the police’ made no attempt to prevent them reaching the free labour bureau. Reaching there, the strikers swarmed over the closed gates, chasing the vounteers, who ran in all directions. There were many fights. The free labourers, after being thrashed, were allowed to escape. The strikers then marched to three vessels lying at the wharves loading. The police here made an effort to disperse the men, and, on reinforcements arriving, finally broke the ranks of the rioters. During the disturbance the strikers swarmed up the gangway of the steamer Nardana and started working winches and moving cargo, while others tried to loosen the lines: holding the vessel to the wharf. They desisted, however, when other rioters objected. The strikers, who were armed with pieces of timber and metal, attached volunteers working on the Nardana and chased them into the wharf sheds. They also attempted to board the German steamer Hanau, but the ship’s officers, armed with revolvers and truncheons, kept them at a distance. Then the strikers bombarded the volunteers on the deck with a volley of stones and coal, severely injuring nine before the remainder were ordered under the hatches. Had not the union officials taken control of the -situation, there would have been no limit to the injuries and danger to human lives. Throughout the riot the strikers were too numerous for the police to deal with. | During the height of the disturbance I a body of sixty free labourers marched from the wharf, having been granted . afe conduct on condition that they left work. When the strikers attacked the vessels many volunteers jumped overboard and swam across the river to Birkenhead in an incredibly short time. There was not a single volunteer in sight of any of the vessels. A large contingent of police from Adelaide were now on the scene of the disturbance, and conditions became quiet.—Australian Press Association.

CREW DISMISSED FOR REFUSING TO TAKE 44 BLACK ” SHIP TO SEA. BRISBANE, September 27. When the steamer Goondi arrived at the Goondi Mill wharf to load, the crew gave notice that they were unwilling, to rig the tackle, nor would they take the vessel to sea if it were loaded by farmers. The owners dismissed the whole crew, and the farmers are now loading and will man the ship for Cairns. A Bowen message states that three more railwaymen have been dismissed by the Queensland Government for refusing duty in connection with working trains carrying goods handled by volunteers.—Australian Press Association. BOTH SIDES STAND FIRM ON DEMANDS. MELBOURNE, September 27. After interviewing the Premier, Mr Hogan, delegates from the maritime transport conference stated that the only possibility for a settlement of the dispute was the withdrawal by the Federal Government of the registration regulations. * A meeting of shipowners informed Mr Hogan that there could be no negotiations for a settlement until the men returned to work under the Beeby Award in every port of the Common wealth.—Australian Press Association.