Blight On Islands

Shipping Hold-up

Sydney Wharf Trouble Puts

Christmas may be late this year—in Papua-New Guinea, Solomons, New Hebrides and other islands serviced by shipping from Australia. Six vessels which were scheduled to make voyages to S-W Pacific ports in the first half of December were still im mobilised in Sydney early in the month. The dipute ended on De cember 6 but delay was expected in getting some ships away. Ships in Fiji were also affected.

THE watersiders’ dispute began in early November as a sporadic affair but by the end of the month had paralysed the port. The dispute was over the alleged assault of a waterside worker called Krespi.

He was sacked from a ship by a stevedore foreman called Twomey.

Krespi alleged that two other fore men had then followed him up a lane and bashed him. The waterside workers declared the three foremen “black” and refused to work with them.

As w T harfies were rostered to work on ships with the three foremen, they refused to do so and were suspended. This had a snowball effect that in three weeks tied up the entire waterside force.

Spokesmen for Islands shipping

lines operating out of Sydney felt that many people in the SW Pacific territories were going to miss out on their late Christmas orders and run short of ordinary basic supplies.

The position early December was as follows: MALEKULA: After some delay through dis putes, cleared Sydney for P-NG ports on November 9.

SHANSI: After about one week's delay d"- 1 to current disputes cleared Sydney for P-NG on November 16.

SOOCHOW: Was due to sail November 22.

Still in Sydney December 2. Should be ready to sail within 48 hours of end of dispute.

Will lift only Sydney cargo already on wharf and will take on rest in Brisbane. This vessel will call Port Moresby and Samara! only.

SINKIANG; Sailing put back from December 6 to 10, but actual sailing on that date depends on settlement of dispute. This vessel goes to Honiara, Yandina (BSIP) before calling at Rabaul. If she leaves on 10th it is possible that she will reach Rabaul just before Christ mas.

MONTORO: Due to sail November 29, still in Sydney December 2. Will take six days after end of dispute before sailing direct Port Moresby, Samarai, Rabaul, Madang, Lae.

MALAITA; Due sail November 27. Still in Sydney December 2. Will take 10 days after end of dispute. Will sail direct Lae via Brisbane.

BULOLO: Will probably get away from Sydney shortly after Malaita, sailing via Brisbane, Samarai, Lae and round the group.

TULAGI; Due into Sydney about December 6.

Sailing date indefinite. It will take 12 days to turn the vessel around when dispute ends and when a berth is found for her. Then via Norfolk Island, New Hebrides, BSIP, etc.

This is the second time this year that the South-West Pacific terri tories have been disrupted by in dustrial trouble that originated in Australia. The first time was when Qantas airline pilots went on strike.

A hold-up of shipping is of con siderably more significance as virtu ally all basic foodstuffs required by the European and Asian com munities and the native labour force are imported from Australia.

Coming at this time of the year, when Christmas stocks are going north, any hold-up has an extra nuisance value.

Dispute over Slings

AS well as the Krespi dispute, there was a subsidiary hold-up over the number of bags to be worked per sling and the number of men to be used per hold. This dispute affected Burns Philp ships

—which carry copra—but not tho of the New Guinea Australia Ur.

After the Krespi dispute w settled, the dispute over bags p sling and men per hold contimn further delaying Montoi Malaita, Bulolo and Tulagi.