THE SHIPPING STRIKE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19433, 20 October 1925, Page 7

THE SHIPPING STRIKE

THE COMPULSORY CONFERENCE

MEN ATTEMPT TO DICTATE PRESIDENT STANDS FIRM • By Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright Received October 19, 9.45 p.m. SYDNEY, Oct. 19. The compulsory conference called by the president of the Arbitration Court to discuss the British seamen’s strike met in camera and adjourned after a short sitting, owing to the strikers’ representatives refusing to negotiate until all the men now imprisoned are released. The shipowners made it clear that their attendance was without prejudice to their legal rights, as they contended the court had no jurisdiction. The president, in reply to the men’s demand for the release of their comrades, said the court could not make an order for the release of the men nor could the owners get them released unless the men first agreed to return to work. No Government would be likely to keep men in gaol once the strike was settled and they wished to return to work. The court adjourned for half an hour to enable the men’s representatives to reconsider the position. Upon resuming, the strikers’ chairman announced it had been decided to maintain the demand for release. The court adjourned till to-morrow forenoon to give the men another chance for re-consideration.

The president said that if they still maintained the same attitude he would refer the dispute into the open court, and call upon the men and their representatives to submit their claims, but the court would then require the men to return to work before it could hoar their claims in the Arbitration Court.

CONFERENCE FAILS STRIKERS REMAIN OUT RELEASE OF IMPRISONED MEN DEMANDED Received Oct. 20, 1.10 a.m. SYDNEY, Oct. 19. After the compulsory conference, the seamen’s delegates reported to a mass meeting of their comrades, who decided to adhere to the demand for the release of the imprisoned seamen, and until the demand is granted not to make any move towards settlement.

THE ONLY ARGUMENT FARMERS THREATEN TO DO THE WORK Received October 19. 8.45 p.m. BRISBANE, Oct. 19. The threat of the primary producers to come to Brisbane to load the coal necessary to keep the refrigerators on the steamer Barrobool going in order to preserve their produce aboard had its effect on the Barrabool’s striking crew to-day. They put the required coal aboard.

OWNERS GETTING IMPATIENT ULTIMATUM TO FEDERAL PRIME MINISTER Received October 19. 8.45 p.m. MELBOURNE, Oct. 19. The Overseas Shipping Representatives' Association has informed the Premier that unless the strike is terminated at an early date it will lake steps to secure volunteer crews to man the idle steamers. This action is taken in view of the hold-up of primary products.

RARANGA SAILS

, NO FREE LABOUR ON BOARD (Per Press Association.] DUNEDIN, Oct. 19. The Raranga sailed at 4.30 a.m. today for Lyttelton. The crew decided on Sunday afternoon to take the vessel to sea despite the fact that nine stokehold hands are missing. The ship, however, has on board sufficient men under the Act. No free labour is amongst the crew. The Raranga arrived at Dunedin on September 26 from London via Suva, and was held up for two weeks owing to the crew refusing duty.

SEAMEN SENTENCED

AUCKLAND CASES (Per Press Association.) ’AUCKLAND. Oct. 19. Two firemen from the steamer Tainui—R. Stanhope and .1. Barnes —were sentenced in the Police Court to-day to two months’ imprisonment for continued disobedience of orders. Mr R. McVeagh, who appeared for the master of the vessel, said the men struck in Wellington. They were brought to Auckland by the Shaw Savill and Albion Company upon their assurance that they would work. All expenses had been paid. That morning, ’ however, they refused to raise steam on a boiler. One of the striking seamen, Thomas Davis McNamara, aged 29, pleaded guilty to assaulting W. Forbes. ChiefDctectivc Cummings said Forbes, who

was a free labourer on a ship, was at | a street meeting on Sunday afternoon, when he was struck over the head by accused, who had no provocation. Accused was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment.

DORSET SAILS FOR WANGANUI COMPLETE CREW OF FREE LABOUR [Per Press Asso nation.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Oct. 19. With a complete crew of free labour, the Federal liner Dorset, which went to the stream yesterday, sailed late tonight for Wanganui. Additional free labour required was taken on board to-day without incident.

THE LEITRIM’S TRIMMERS SIXTEEN COLLEGE STUDENTS [Per Press Association.] DUNEDIN, Oct. 19. Sixteen students of the Canterbury Colleg came down on the Leitrim as trimmers. They'were greeted, as they stepped on the Port Chalmers wharf with cries of “Here are the scabs,” and sarcastic reference to college boy stokers. A section of the crowd wish!ed to fight the matter out and a short melee occurred. After being paid off the men left this morning with firstclass railway fares paid. The Leitrim had no trouble in securing waterside labour, and the vessel’s cargo is now being discharged, j UGLY MOOD IN AUCKLAND EBEE FIGHT ON THE OTAKI MINORITY BLUDGEONED FORTY STRIKERS SUMMONED [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Oct. 19. An ugly mood developed among the striking seamen on the waterfront. On the Otaki the argument of force, in the form of fisticuffs, was employed to bludgeon a minority into continuance of the strike. This persuasion was ef- ■ fective after a general melee, and the I disaffected majority then turned on the ] cooks. The battle was unequal, the I odds being many to one, and the galI ley staff beat a retreat. The visitors ! then took charge of the galley, reduced ■ the crockery to scrap, damaged dthcr ' utensils, and made a picnic of food on I deck. Another unpleasant feature to-day ■ was two assaults on volunteer seamen. |On the other hand, a hopeful sign was the sailing of the Port Nicholson, which is the first British vessel with a European crew not to be affected in any way by the strike. To-day was the second occasion on which the seamen of the Otaki refused to take the vessel to sea. In consequence, she could not leave for Wellington, as intended. She was scheduled to sail at midday, but w-as not ready at that time owing to all cargo for [Auckland not having been discharged. I Most of the seamen were on board, and i the majority had apparently decided ■ not to take the vessel to sea. How- ; ever, the discussion -was not unanimous until the men fought the question out among themselves with bare knuckles. The result was a victory for those fav- ! ouriug continuance of the strike. The I seamen then attempted to induce the I cooks and baker to join them in the ■ strike, but this the men of the galley staff refused to do. Some of the seamen then tried moral suasion by attacking the cooks and baker, and also by wrecking the galley. The cooks beat a retreat. Before the baker could escape, however, he was assaulted, but was not badly hurt. The men then turned their attention to the contents of the galley, and before they finished all the crockery ware was smashed, and j pots and pans damaged. Cooked food [in dishes was taken on deck, and as ! much, as possible was eaten by- the men, I who used their hands as substitutes for ■ ; knives and forks. By this time a 1 | posse of police had arrived on the scene ' | and dispersed the men. A number of strikers went on shore, ' but had rejoined the Otaki when cargo 1 work was finished at half past three. !As the Otaki w ( as ready to sail the ' men were mustered on deck and were ■ asked by the captain whether they I would take the ship to sea. This they , refused to do. He then warned them i of the consequences of their refusal, but the warning was unheeded. In > consequence, forty of the seamen will I appear in the Police Court to-morrow - charged with refusing to obey the law- ) ful commands of the master.