from a special correspondent
The following statement has been issued in the form of a leaflet by the Fishermen's Defence and Aid Fund, T. Howell, Main St., Newport, Nr. Hull,
"Why we came out « for 100% trade unionismembership. - to show the trawler owners we are not the leaderless sheep they thought we weres== to show our national and regional union leaders that our patience was running out. - to protest against the shocking working conditions, long hours, and poor paye "Notes that trawlermen average 5/6d an hour, compared with 8/3d an hour average industrial earnings; - that Associated Fisheries! dividend rose from 30% to 35% this year; - that the Government has GIVEN £16 million to trawler owners in the last 13 years, - to highlight the notorious Merchant Shipping Act of 1894, under which we are treated more like slaves than free men, in the Law Courts. - to unite deckhands and engineers, in a common struggle: to thwart the owners efforts to divided us, "What we achieved - our wion leaders were made to understand that we need action, - were not intimidated by the owners! threat to prosecute 30 of our fellow fishermen, - we are taking steps to make the union branch an effective expression of our wishes, ~ we have established valuable links with Hull's labour movement and active trade unionists on shore, ~ money is coming in steadily to a Fishermen's Aid and Defence Fund to help fishermen hauled up before the Courts in the future. "(Contributions to T. Howell, Main Street, Newport, near Hulls trustees are: J. Curry, 83, Campain Ave,, Hessle High Rd., Hull, and N,. Godman, 13, St. George's Road, Anlaby Rd., Hull)
"Brothers - our strike was an important START to a great campaign by fishermen, - we can be proud of our stand against the owners. = we can hold our heads high, watch out for our FISHERMEN'S CHARTER out soon!"