Evening star., 1948-11-16
Maritime
{Continued From First Pase.)

normally would dock at New York
or other harhofs In the strike area.
The United States Lines America,
pride Of the American merchant ma
rine, was held in port here instead
Of sailing today for Europe.
Tol11ofrow's scheduled sailing Of
the CunArd White Star liner Queen
Elizabeth from Southampton was
Cancelled. The worlds biggest pas
senger ship, booked with 2,oo0 per-
sons bound for New York, was to
have docked at Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Postponement OF the Queen
Elizabeth's sailing was announced
last night, shortly after long
shoremen in Halifax decided not to
handle any more ships diverted to
their port because Of the longshore-
mems strike along the seaboard be-
tween Portland. Me-, and Hampton
Roads, Va.
Other Ports Affected.
Canadian af1liates Of the striking
AFL International Longshoremen's
Association said the same decision
would affect the ports Of Montreal
and st. John. New Brunswick.
Joseph p. Ryan, president Of the
union, said here that, workers In
South Atlantic and Gulf ports would
take similar action II shipowners
sought to ease the full impact Of
the walkout by rerouting passenger
or cargo ships in that direction.
There was no indication Of settle.
ment of the strike OF 5000 men,
bers of the lila as the shipping tie
up, caused by wage dispute, went
into its seventh day.
The Canadian Labor Department
said in Ottawa that it will investi-
gate the refusal of longshoremen to
work" any more diverted ships. A
department Official said it is pos
sible that the contracts Of the Can
adian longshoremen contain escape
clauses" permitting them to refuse
to handle hot" cargo. The long
shoremen are covered by Canada's
new federal labor coda which pre-
scribes. procedures which must be
followed before strike can be
waged.
The port of Halifax had handled
several ships diverted from New
York since the strike began. Spe-
cial trains carried passengers to and
from New York. But yesterday &
union decision choked of the port
which fast was becoming the most
important on the Atlantic Coast.
There was no indication today OF
any break in the deadlock between
the lila and the stevedore employers
over wages. The union is demand
ing an increase of so cents an hour
and welfare benefits. The employers
have agreed to 10 and Is cent rises,
which would boost the day shift
straight time pay from $1.75 to $1.8s
an hour and the night and weekend
overtime pay from $2.621s to $2.T1k
an hour.
Paul G. Hoffman, Economic Co.
operation Administrator, said in
Washington last night that special
appeal. may be made to the long
shoremen to load coal and grain for
Marshall Plan nations if the strike
continues. He said movement OF
the two commodities is vital fol
European recovery.
Refused Marshall Plan Cargoes.
Mr.. Ryan, refusing to handle
Marshall Plan shipments, has sale
his union men will load only Arm.
supplies and mail.
Mayor william ODwyer Of New
York, who stands ready to co
operate with Federal mediation
officials in efforts to settle the walk
out, was assured by the union yes
terday that delivery of vital foo
and fuel supplies here will not b
curtaiied. Mr.. Ryan told the Mayo
that harbor tugboats will continu
normal food and fuel handling.
The Swedish American line
Stockholm docked in New York yes
terday, and the line announced tn
ship will return with 2,847 mailbag
and 400 tons Of cargo It brough
from Goeteborg If he strike is no
ended by tomorrow:
In San Francisco, negotiators re
ported progress in efforts to spec
settlemenA of the 75-day-old Yves
Coast VI axont strike tieup.