SHIPPING STRIKE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19440, 28 October 1925, Page 7

SHIPPING STRIKE

CRISIS AT GLADSTONE STRIKERS BACK DOWN PREMIER TAKES ONLY COURSE By Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright BRISBANE, Oct. 27. The Transport Unions’ Strike Committee has informed the owners through the Premier that it is willing to allow Union labour to supply coal to keep the refrigerators working in all ships. The Committee stated that it did not want to make the oversea shipping strike the basis for a general strike, and made the offer in the hope that shipowners and farmers would recognise that the overseas seamen, while determined to enforce their demands, were not going to be drawn into a general strike.

It is understood the offer is conditional on the owners agreeing not to institute further prosecutions against strikers.

The owners’ representatives have cabled to London for instructions, and in the meantime farmers have deferred loading coal into the Mahia at Gladstone until Wednesday night. The Premier, in a statement after an interview with the strikers’ committee, said he emphasised that coal must be supplied for refrigerators, and suggested that if an arrangement could be made it would not affect the ultimate result of the strike, and if owners took legitimate steps to supply coal the Government would be compelled to give them police protection.

ON THE MAHIA CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES. FARMERS AWAIT REPLY.. ■ - i Received October 27, 10.20 p.m. BRISBANE, Oct. 27. The latest report from Gladstone states that a conference between Cap tain Williams of the Mahia and representatives of the strikers, tho crew and head of the police, discussed the position. It was stated that the Brisbane strike committee had wired emphatically declining to permit coal being placed aboard any British steamer. Captain Williams stated that coal was now available, ample police protection was promised and the farmers were determined not to allow the meat on the Mahia to perish. One of the strikers declared that ’f Captain Williams put on free labour he would have to accept the responsibility for any bloodshed. He add ’d that the matter lay in the hands of Brisbane, not tho local strike committee. Finally, the strikers’ delegates undertook to give a definite answer by Wednesday night and in ths meantime to withdraw pickets. Later, two delegates left for Brisbane to place the position before the strike executive. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

LURED TO A DANCE STRIKERS’ REVENGE ON STEWARDS. MEN BADLY HANDLED. Received October 27, 10.20 p.m. SYDNEY, Oct. 27. A number of stewards on the steamer Nestor who refused to join the strike were inveigled to a dance last night, where they were attacked and roughly handled bv a mob of strikers. One of the lady dancers informed a police patrol, who came to the rescue and escorted the men to the ship. One of the stewards was so severely knocked about that he was sent to hospital. Three or four others were badly bruised. —Aus.-N-Z. Cable Assn.

AWAY FROM BRISBANE PORT SYDNEY REACHES SYDNEY. Received October 27. 10.20 p.m. SYDNEY, Oct. 27. The steamer Port Sydney, which was held up by the strikers at Brisbane, reached Sydney to-day. POLICE GUARD AT LAST STRIKERS RESPECTFUL AT FREMANTLE. Received October 27, 10.20 p.m. FREMANTLE, Oct. 27. For the first time since the strike began, a strong police guard was provided for the arrival of the ship Enton from New York. The strikers gave a wide berth, the Enton tying up without incident. The lumpers are discharging the cargo.

A NEAT RUSE

PAPAROA ESCAPES FROM BRISBANE. Received October 27, 10.20 pjn. BRISBANE, Oct. 27. The strikers are incensed over a ruse whereby the steamer Paparoa was enabled to leave Townsville, Several motor-cars filled with police were sent to the jetty where the steamer Somerset was lying, attracting the strikers thither. The Paparoa seized the opportunity to swing out en route to London via Torres Straits. When the strikers returned they

realised they had been hoaxed but it was too. late to do anything beyond angrily demonstrating. DEPORTATION BOARD SECOND CASE TO BE HEARD. MELBOURNE, Oct. 27. The Hon. S. M. Bruce stated that the Deportation Board would not issue its report until the case against- Johannsen, commencing next Wednesday, is completed. AN EXAMPLE SIX WEEKS’ IMPRISONMENT. , PERTH, Oct. 27. All members of the crew of the Apolda, with the exception of three, have been charged with impeding navigation and damaging the vessel, and have been sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment.

LOYAL CREWS REFUSE TO JOIN STRIKERS. MELBOURNE, Oct. 27. The crews of the Berrima, Sophocles, Diogenes, and Oronsay still refuse tc join the strikers, despite the latter’s daily efforts to embroil them in the dispute.

“JOB CONTROL” AGAIN SHORT-LIVED AGREEMENT. MELBOURNE, Oct. 27. The owners state that the holding up of the Ulimaroa, Karoola, and Werribee is proof that the agreement made in August with the Seamen’s Union, which was stated to be the end of "job control,” is beginning to share the fate of previous agreements and undertakings entered into by the Seamen’s Union, and that “job control” is again being exercised.