DECLINED TO DO DUTY.

The Mercury, Hobart, Saturday 18 November, 1911.

THE STRIKE OF FIREMEN.

NEW HANDS JOIN THE STRIKERS.

FREMANTLE, November 17

A settlement has not yet been arrived

at in connection with the trouble with the

firemen on the steamer Koombana. The

trouble arose through 16 men in the

stokehold being paid off us the result of

their action in declaring that they would

not proceed to sea while the chief steward 

remained in charge of the stores. Men

were brought from Adelaide to fill their

places, but upon representations of the

disaffected men they declined to do duty.

What a mess! The cost incurred bringing firemen from Adelaide had done nothing to alleviate the crisis which appeared to be going from bad to worse! Why did captain Allen simply not remove the control of stores from the Chief Steward and place the responsibility with the Purser? Captain Allen did not demonstrate leadership qualities during this crisis.

Firemen, circa 1911

courtesy Trove