CO129-512-2 Political situation in China- and Canton 31-5-1929 - 13-11-1929 — Page 19

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crews: and it was understood that they would bring to

notice cases where difficulties arose over reinstatement or

re-employment. No single case of the nature was brought

to notice by the Union officials or through any ther

charmel: and the circumstances ade it highly improbable

that any such cases existed, for all of the rany ships that

had been detained in the Harbour on account of the strike

were hurried away to sea as soon as crevs could be found

for them.

Nothing further in fact was heard of the post

settlement conditions of the Agreement until October 7th -

seven months after the date of settlement.

On and after

that date Sir R. llo Tung received demands from the Seamen's

Union for large sums on account of pre settlement and of

post settlement half pay, making a total of some $340,000

in all. Sir Robert replied asking that the claims should

be forwarded to the proper quarter for examination in the

first instance and the correctness of the individual

amounts be verified and apportionments certified before

he could make the disbursements falling on him to pay through

the "appointed Administrator".

On October 26th in consequence the Seamen's Union

duly presented their claim to the Chairman of the Shipowners

Committee: who invoked the assistance of the Secretary for

Chinese Affairs in its consideration. A test case showed

at once that accounts entered in the bill for pre settlement

half pay had already been paid and witnessed by representatives

of the Union: and immediate enquiries from a few important

companies revealed the fact that the Shipowners generally

had duly discharged their liabilities in this comection.

Normal conditions had been restored within a few days of the

strike