UGLY SITUATION

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16596, 12 September 1925, Page 7

UGLY SITUATION

STRIKERS RUSH POLICE

TWO OFFICERS BADLY MAULED

MOB CHECKED WITH REVOLVERS

The situation at Sydney in connection with the shipping strike is becoming decidedly ugly. While the police were endeavouring to effect an arrest of strikers they wore charged by a crowd and two officers were severely mauled, and the police were only enabled to hold their own by keeping the mob In check with revolvers.

(United Tress Association) SYDNEY, Sept. 11

A serious clash between the striking British seamen and the police, the first since Hie strike began, occurred at Hie Central Railway Station to-day.

The police bad planned to raid the strikers while they were at the railway refreshment room, where the Australian Seamen’s Union had arranged for them (o lie supplied with meals. While the strikers were waiting to enter the dining room a detective suddenly rushed at one man, who fled along the platform. Another detective joined in the chase.

The strikers charged after the detectives, shouting: “Come on, all. We will get him out of it.” Ovep 100 strikers raced along the platform. Dozens more who were just arriving joined in. By the time the mass of the strikers had arrived at the road near the station the detectives had captured their man. The crowd then charged and knocked the two officers down. They brutally assaulted them and a violent struggle followed. A uniformed policeman arrived and he drew his revolver and ordered the crowd to stand back.

The detectives, although they had been severely mauled, took the man they had arrested to the station, while the remainder of the strikers were held in check by the constable’s revolver.

A meeting of strikers reaffirmed their decision not to assist the police in any way.

Many British seamen are walking the city streets armed with collection boxes, but so far the public are not responding. The Commonwealth Labour Councils to-day resumed their discussion of the Deportation Act. The greatest secrecy was preserved, but it is known that the councils sent a message to the Waterside Workers’ Federation asking that a delegate from that body should attend their conference.

No secret is now made of the fact that an ugly situation has developed. Delegates to Hie conference declare that the slightest move which affects the trades union movement may precipitate a crisis. After the sensational arrest at the station the police kept a sharp eye on the railway refreshment room, but there were no further arrests. A large party of strikers hurriedly left the station with the object, they stated, of dealing with the ship’s officer who had identified some of the strikers with the result that they were arrested. The men failed to find their prey and quietly passed a large body of police assembled in the vicinity. Apparently ihe seamen were devoid of ail lighting spirit.

Various points about the harbour, where fhen may attempt to put off to this idle ships, are now strongly picketed. The strikers apparently anticipate defections in their ranks.

PEACE MOVE LIKELY.

STRICTEST SECRECY MAINTAINED

SYDNEY, Sept. 11

After having heard the evidence of (he masters of several tied-up British steamers in relation to the events leading up to the seamen leaving the ships, the Deportation Board to-day adjourned its sitting until Monday. It is considered likely that an attempt will be made to settle the strike in a similar way to that adopted in the recent Australian shipping crisis. Mr J. T. Lang, Premier of New South Wales, is likely to be asked to act as negotiator between the strikers and the shipowners. The greatest secrecy is maintained., but it is extremely probable that a peace move will shortly be made. A number of union leaders interviewed the Premier to-day. It is understood they requested him to intervene. Mr J T. Lang, replied last night to the speech made at Bandenong on the previous evening by the Prime Minister, Mr S. M. Bruce. He said that in tin's first adventure Mr Bruce seemed to be likely to wreck his .party and to cover the Commonwealth with world-wide obloquy. The only tiling Mr Lang had refused to do, he said, was to supply Mr Bruce with a Deportation Boa**d, or agree io the banishment of citizens of New South Wales who had happened to incur the hostility of the Employers’ Federation or the shipping “ring." The two union officials, Walsh and Johnson, who were now before the Deportation Board, were not Communists. The 'l'radcs and Labour Council met last evening in camera. At the close of the proceedings it was stated that the council had resolved that all the unions should be asked to contribute a levy of 1J per cent, per week of the earnings of their members. The levy is to be collected by unions. No union is to collect the levy on wages of £2 a week or less. The council re-affirmed its decision to declare ail British ships "black” on their arrival. Dependents Affected. LONDON, Sept. 10. Hundreds of sailors’ homes in England arc affected by the decision of the Union Castle Company not to pay further allotments from wages to the wives and dependants of the seamen who are striking in South Africa. Wives have in the past received 30s a week out of the men’s wages.

A message from Capetown states that the threats of the British seamen that they will stop work if their pay is stopped have not so far been fulfilled. The men arc performing their ordinary duties.