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Bus Protest March
By 350 Seamen
About 350 seamen in 16 ships in port walked off at
1 p.m. yesterday and marched to Newcastle Trades Hall in
protest against a cut in a bus service to the waterfront.
The Secretary of New
castle branch of the Sea
men's Union (Mr. J. Bren
nan) said the men would re
sume normal duties this
morning.
The men met at the Trades
Hall and marched down Hun
ter-street to the Watt-street
office of the Transport De
partment.
Outside the office, they held
an orderly demonstration,
which lasted for nearly an
hour, while union representa
tives conferred with officers of
the department,.
The men protested against
the department's elimination of
a short "run on" service from
the main gates of the Steel
Works. to Carrington Wharf
gates.
It was stated that this cut
was part of ecdsnomies being
sade in Newcastle's bus ser
vices.
The seamen said they should
lot be required to walk the
distances, particularly as a bus
service had operated till.a few
days ago.
They said that, in.'the past
few days, they had either to
walk in rain or use a taxi.
"Service Chaotic"
The resolution carried at
the seamen's meeting at the
Trades Hall said that New
castle's bus services were fast
becoming chaotic. This was
especially so since industry
buses had been cut.
The meeting expressed "its
sympathy with the public of
Newcastle who were still being
forced to que.le for hours to
get bus transport." It asked
the Siate Government to pro
vide enough men and buses to
"ensure a decent service."
Immediately after the meet
ing, tile men formed fours and
began their. march towards
Watt-street.
At the intersection of Hun
ter and Scott Streets, the
column swung into Hunter
street and began to march
against the traltic.
The marchers did, not heed
the efforts of-two police on
motor-cycles to halt and:diVert
the men out of Hunter-street.
The .column kept goin, to 'the
cries of, "Keep ..left' from
the .police. ' .. .
The police' escorted . the
marchers to Watt-street.
The men then appointed a
delegation of representatives
from various ships in port. The
delegation of 15 included the
Secretary of Newcastle Trades
Hlnl Council (Mr. A. Dowling).
Deputations Urged
.The Deputy Superintendent
of Transport in Newcastle
(Mr. C. Knox) told the men
there was nothing he could do.
He suggested that the men ap
point a small deputation to
present the case. He would
send their request to the auth
orities in Sydney.
Arriving at the office of the
lepartment.: the men congre
gated in a mass on the foot.
path, steps and roadway, but
police forced a laneway to
permit peopld to pass through.
Mr. Brennan entered the of
fice and. soon returned. He
told the men that the District
Transport Superintendent
(Mr. Owens) was not avail
able, and that departmental
officers were "dealing with
some disciplinary matters af
fecting busmen." He asked
the seamen to give the depar
mental officer a "fair go."
Angry voice:' What about
the' seven bob 1 paid in taxi
fares to miss the rain?
halfway through the discus
sions, Mr. Owens arrived. The
conference ended in about 10
minutes.
Mr. Brennan again address
ed the men. He said nothing
c?ild be done now. but Mr.
Owens had promised to pre
sent their case t9 the authori
ties in Sydney.
He . said the delegation
would. meet at Newcastle
Trades Hall at '3 p.m. on
Monday, when the result of
the union's representations
would be known. The dele
gation would later advise ship
crews.
Mr. Brennan said that Mr.
Owens had told them "he
would get the sack if he put
on extra buses without ap
proval."
Voices: Tell him not to
worry. We'll back him up.
The men then broke up
quietly and returned to their
ships.
The walk-off did not affect
coal-loading and general cargo
handling on wharves.
'he seamen left enough
men on board ships to raise
steam to load and discharge
cargo.
Monday Meeting
The Liaison Officer of
Newcastle Waterfront Group
of Unions (Mr. M. Copley)
said last night that, at the
request of the.Seamen's Union,
a nreeting-of the groupwdould
be held at Newcastle Trades
Hall at 2.15 on Monday to
discuss the cut in waterfront
bus services.
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