STILL AGGRESSIVE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19436, 23 October 1925, Page 7

STILL AGGRESSIVE

AUSTRALIAN SEAMEN’S UNION

NO FUEL FOR “BLACK” SHIPS

OIL-BURNERS AFFECTED

The seamen’s strike is dying hard in Australia. The latest move by the Australian Seamen’s Union is to prevent the supply of coal or oil to steamers which have been declared black. So far as New Zealand is concerned, steamers are sailing freely.

By Telegraph—Per' Press Assn.—Copyright.

AN ANGRY MEETING N.S.W. SEAMEN N CONFERENCE. BLACK SHIPS NOT TO BE FUELED. / Received Oct. 23, 1.15 a.m. SYDNEY, Oct. 22. The Seamen’s Union met further to consider the strike position. The meeting Was protracted, and at times the proceedings were very turbulent and angry. It is understood the most important decision reached was one forbidding the manning or working of colliers listed to coal overseas ships involved in the dispute. This embargo is also to apply to the supply of coal or oil fuel to the Ballis Head supply depot. The latter part of the decision will af feet the oil-burning steamers of all lines including tho Union Comptiny. “BLACK” SHIPS BAN ON ALL BRITISH SHIPS BURKE LINE INCLUDED BRISBANE, Oct. 22. The Strike Committee has declared all British ships in Brisbane 11 black/’ and decided that they will not be permitted to be supplied with coal. When the crew of tho steamer Palmer, belonging to John Burke, Ltd., learned that the ship had loaded coali for the refrigerating plant on the steamer Port Hardy, anchored in WhitSunday Passage, they refused to take the ship to sea, and a non-union crew was obtained. The Seamen’s Union thereupon declared all the Burke Line vessels “black.” The firemen on the steamer Barrabool repudiated tho agreement with the. owners and refused to continue to maintain the refrigerating plant. The engineers and officers have taken over their duties in order to keep the plant working. POSITION IN ADELAIDE STRIKERS ON AND OFF ADELAIDE, Oct. 22. Many striking seamen are registering at the Government Labour Bureau for employment ashore. The crew of the steamer Westmoreland joined the strikers. AFTER THE DEFEAT LEADERS FALL OUT JOHNSTON v. WALSH SYDNEY, Oct. 22. Another version of the Seamen’s Union meeting, which was hold in camera, indicates that it chiefly resolvedf into a squabble between Walsh and Johnson, the latter attacking Walsh for advising the men to submit to arbitration, that the meeting carried a resolution of confidence in Walsh, and that the question of continuing to support the British seamen was postponed till to-morrow. No resolution on that point was carried. The “Herald” confirms the squabble in the Australian Seamen’s Union. Tho meeting was held in response to a requisition by a number of members led by Johnson, who submitted a resolution demanding that the British seamen be asked to refrain from submitting their claims to the Arbitration Court. The motion also deplored the

action of Walsh in advising the men to go to the Court and made a threat that Australian seamen would withdraw support from the strikers if the latter continued to resort to arbitration.. After a lengthy, heated debate, the motion was overwhelmingly defeated, and the meeting decided to continue to support the strike. AT FREMANTLE LUMPERS REFUSE TO UNLOAD ORSOVA Received October 22, 10.10 p.m. FREMANTLE, Oct. 22. An attempt to unload portion of the refrigerated cargo from the steamer Orsova was prevented by lumpers refusing to work the vessel, the seamen having declared the decks and cargo black.

DIOGENES PASSES BY SHIPPING COMPANIES SECURING CREWS. Received Oct. 22, 8.50 p.m. MELBOURNE, Oct. 22. Owing to the strike, the steamer Diogenes, from England, which was to have called at Melbourne, will go direct to Sydney. Agents of British shipping companies state that they have received a satisfactory response to their invitation for a limited number of men to man ships leaving for ports outside Australia. Police were on duty outside a shipping office which strikers picketed, but no attempts were made to interfere with men applying for jobs. THE RARANGA’S CREW ANOTHER CASE BEFORE COURT. OTHER INFORMATIONS WITHDRAWN. [Per Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 22. At Lyttelton to-day, Richard Phipps, a trimmer, was charged with wilful disobedience of lawful commands. Accused, w r ho is a member of the crew of the Rarangta, pleaded not guilty. Ernest Arthur Spencer, second engineer of the vessel, gave evidence that under instructions on Tuesday he went into the forecastle for three men. Accused alone was present, and witness ordered him to go on duty. Accused absolutely refused, stating that he wanted time off. Phipps was not entitled to take time off without first obtaining permission from the chief officer or himself. ■Phipps, giving evidence, said he was not feeling well at the time. He informed the second engineer he wtanted time off, and thought it was all right. Ho had worked the following day. The bench—“ Are you prepared to go back and obey orders?” Defendant—‘ 1 Yes. J 1 Edward Templeton Grayston, chief officer, stated that the master of the ship did not wish to press the charge unduly, but ho wanted the man to obey orders according to agreement land the ship’s articles. Accused was convicted and ordered to pay costs, being discharged on the understanding that he returned to his ship and obeyed the lawful commands of the master.

Throe other charges against other members of the crew, for a similar offence, were withdrawn, the chief officer stinting that the men had returned to work since the charge had. boon laid. HORORATA SAILS LEITRIM TO DEPART ON SATURDAY. [Per Press Association.] DUNEDIN, Oct. 22. Sufficient men were secured to-day to complete the crew of the Hororata, and the vessel left Port Chalmers at 3 p.m. for Bluff. A few members of the .original crew are on board, but the majority are non-unionists. It is anticipated that there will be no difficulty in securing sufficient men to take the Leitrim to sea. The vessel will finish her local loading at Port Chalmers to-morrow, and is scheduled to sail on Saturday morning for the Bluff. CALLING FOR FREE LABOUR DECISION IN MELBOURNE QUEENSLAND FARMERS READY MELBOURNE, Oct. 22. The overseas shipping representatives have decided to advertise for volunteer labour to work the idle ships. The firemen on the steamer Ceramis have joined the strikers. BRISBANE, Oct. 22. Farmers throughout the State are offering to man the ships should the owners call for volunteers.