SHIPPING DISPUTE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 65, 17 March 1936, Page 7

SHIPPING DISPUTE

OPINIONS DIFFER IN ROOSEVELT CABINET WASHINGTON, March 14. A sharp clash of opinion over lhe handling of the recent Pacific Coast shipping strike has developed within the. Roosevelt Cabinet. From March 2 until March 5 the striking members of the crew delayed the sailing of the steamship California of the Panama Pacific Line from San Pedro for New York. Secretary Perkins personally intervened and after an hour of telephonic negotiations from Washington a basis of arbitration was reached end the vesL-el sailed. Jt was revealed today, howevvr, that the Secretary for Comercu, Air. Roper, whose department controls shipping, insisted that the crew is guilty of mutiny and has turned the case over to the Department of Justice for prosecutions. Air. Perkins still insists that the incident, is merely a strike and therefore is pprfectly legal. Mr. Roper bases his mutiny c'harge on the contention that the action of the crew jeopardised the safety of the pasengers, even though the boat waa docked and was not on the high scsp. As far as can be recalled there is no precedent for a mutiny charge involving such circumstances, and the Labour, leaders feel that the conviction of the sailors could be used as a powerful weapon by shipping interest s in the ex-ent. of similar strikes in the future. Mr. Perkins indicated here that his department would do all possible to prevent, t he arrest, nf the saiio rs.