BIG HOLD-UP EXPECTED.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19171, 30 November 1927, Page 9

BIG HOLD-UP EXPECTED.

THE WATERSIDERS' STRIKE OWNERS DETERMINED. (BT cable—PBXSS ASSOCIATION—COPTBIOHT.) (AUSTRALIAN AND K.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received November 29th, 9.20 p.m.) SYDNEY, November 29. In anticipation of the possible failure of negotiations for a settlement of the watersiders' strike to-morrow, agents are making strenuous efforts to get vessels away. A number of overseas steamers are hurying loading to prevent being tied up. Union circles agree that unless the watersiders agree to the shipowners' ultimatum there will be a deadlock, as the owners are determined. The Sydney Branch of the Seamen's Union to-day discussed the position, but failed to reach any decision as to their attitude. The Kiwitea is coming to Sydney, where the crew will be paid off. OWNERS' ULTIMATUM. NO REPLY YET. (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z CABLE ASSOCIATION.) MELBOURNE, November 29. At a meeting of the Watersiders' Management Committee, fears were expressed that if the shipowners carried out their threat to tie up Bhips in the event of their demands being disregarded by tho watersiders, despite the committee's resolution rejecting the terms proposed, the dispute would reach a stage which was not contemplated by the union when the original overtime strike was given effect to. Later the committee announced that although no reply had yet been received from the shipowners, the union was still prepared to negotiate with the object of endeavouring to arrive at a settlement in order to obviate the taking of the drastic measures contemplated by the shipowners. The Port Phillip stevedores, who handle all overseas cargo in Port Melbourne, decided to support the watersiders' strike. Representatives of the shipowners state that they will refuse to confer with the delegates of the watersiders, even if tho men decide to return on the normal conditions on Wednesday. The owners will hold to the letter of their ultimatum. If the men decide to resume on Wednesday tho owners will not open any negotiations until the matter comes before the Arbitration Court. The terms of the awards and agreements will have to he honoured until the matter is before the Court.

MEN TO OFFER FOR WORK. UNION PUTS OUT A FEELER. | (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLI ASSOCIATION.) (Received November 29th, 11.5 p.m.) MELBOURNE, November 29. The wharf labourers and stevedores will offer for work as usual to-morrow morning, but only on the conditions now prevailing. -They will give no guarantees. This is in accordance with the instructions of the Watersiders' Federation Management Committee, which is waiting to see what tactics the owners will adopt to-morrow before making a further move. A meeting of the Melbourne branch of the Seamen's Union adopted a resolution declaring that the seamen did not want to strike, but that if the shipowners forced a dispute, they demanded that a common policy between the seamen and the watersiders be adopted, and that all ships, overseas and inter-State, throughout Australia be declared black. It was also resolved that until such time as the tactics to ba employed to assist the watersiders in their fight for better conditions were decided upon, members of the Seamen's Union would perform their usual shipboard duties. A meeting of shipowners drew up a list of rules which have been disregarded by the watersiders and upon which the owners will now insist. If the men agree to the conditions and afterwards infringe any award conditions, the owners will stop all work: on any particular ship or group of ships and tie them up. MEN'S ATTITUDE CONDEMNED. (Eeceived November 29th, 11.50 p.m.) CANBERRA, November 29. In the Senate, Senator Ogden moved an adjournment, to call attention to the watersiders' strike. In condemning the men's attitude, he said the union should be forced to comply with its awards. The Federal Government should exercise every power it possessed to meet force with force and make these men obey the law. He asked if a few men wer* to be allowed to bring industrial depression and! hardship upon the community. If he had power, he would deregister them and remove thom from the protection of the Court.