FREE LABOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 223, 20 September 1928, Page 7

FREE LABOUR.

TO WORK SHIPS.

Unionists Efforts To Intimidate

Volunteers.

SETTLEMENT HOPES FADE.

(Received 11.30 a.m.)

SYDNEY, this day

Free labour is to commence work on the local wharves to-day. Placards and "dodgers" urging the men not to volunteer are being posted all over the city by unionists. At Brisbane a watersiders' mass meeting reaffirmed their decision not to work under the Beebv award. At Melbourne a special meeting of the Australian Council of Trades Unions is being held to consider the latest developments of the waterside strike. The mail liner Orsova is approaching Fremantle at greatly reduced speed in the hope that the waterside hold-up will be avoided. The liner Cathay last week was compelled to resume her voyage without unloading. The overseas Shipping Representatives' Association announced yesterday that the shipowners have decided to employ volunteer labour on the waterfront at all the ports where the members of the Waterside Workers' Federation have refused to offer themselves for work under the full terms of the new award. As a result of a conference between the Premier of Victoria, Mr. E. J. Hogan, and officials of the Waterside Workers' Federation, it is stated that the trouble at Melbourne may end soon. The wharf labourers at Cairns, Port Douglas and Townsville are working. All the wharves at Port Adelaide are idle. The continuance of the strike there has resulted in the postponement of the wool sales scheduled for Friday. Two steamers sailed from Newcastle on Tuesday night with their cargoes undischarged. The Prime Minister, Mr. Bruce, gave notice of the introduction of a bill designed to provide measures for the protection of free labour on wharves when the transport services are interrupted by industrial troubles. Mr. Lewis W. Nott, Nationalist member for Herbert, Queensland, said he had received a telegram stating that the food supplies were running low in parts of that State owing to the waterside workers' Btrike. The Prime Minister, Mr. Bruce, said it was difficult for the Commonwealth to take action, but the matter would be referred to the Queensland Government.