MARINE DISPUTE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18423, 2 July 1925, Page 9

MARINE DISPUTE.

"Very grave" position. EFFECT OF ULTIMATUM. (BY CABLE—ritESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN AXD X.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION) (Received July Ist, 10.10 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 1. The seamen's decision to issue an ultimatum to the shipowners, has caused a stir in business and trade union circles. The general opinion is that the situation is now very grave. The Watersides' Federation met to discuss the latest development, but adjourned without deciding what attitude to adopt. The Federal bodies of the unions concerned will probably meet on Friday, when it is expected that a decision will be reached. The Commonwealth lino steamer Carina is the latest addition to the tied-up list, tho owners refusing to insert the guarantee clause. The sailing of the Howard Smith steamer Karoola was cancelled by tho owners. No reason was given. [A stop-work meeting of the Seamen's Union decided that, unless the guarantee clause demands were conceded as each vessel arrived at ; its home port in the Commonwealth, the men would give 14 days' notice to cease work. It was stated, on behalf of the Seamen's Union, that the reason why the seamen had decided to give 14 days' notice was that if each of tho crows waited until their articles expired before entering the struggle, one section of the workers would be out of employment for a considerable period before the shipowners were submitted Io sufficiently strong pressure to cause them to review the position.] ESSENTIAL SERVICES. GOVERNMENT WILL MAINTAIN THEM. (AUSTRALIAN AXD K. 7.. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received July Ist, 11.5 p.m.) MELBOURNE, -July 1. Addressing the Rotary Club, MiBruce (Prime Minister) said the Government was prepared, if necessary, to fight the Seamen's Union to a finish to secure tho conduct of national services. Tho Federal Cabinet had considered tho shipping unrest, and decided that if comuicreo were paralysed the Government would maintain essential services, and, if necessary, requisition vessels and man them with volunteer labour. SHIPOWNERS' ATTITUDE. REFUSAL TO MEET SEAMEN. (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) MELBOURNE, July ]. Acting on the suggestion made by Mr Bruce, that tho shipping dispute is now one between tho seamen and the employers, the deputation which waited upon him decidod to seok direct negotiations with the shipowners. / After a hurried meeting of the Steamship Owners' Association, a reply was sent to the deputation, stating that, in view of tho fact that Mr "Walsh had publicly declared that job-control was hero to stay, and that this was confirmed by the official journal of the Seamen's Union, the Association considered it would be useless and improper to meet in conference any persons purporting to be the representatives of the Seamen's Union.