BIG STRUGGLE OPENS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19174, 3 December 1927, Page 15

BIG STRUGGLE OPENS.

—« — THE WATERSIDE DISPUTE. NO WORK AT AUSTRALIAN PORTS. 35,000 MEN IDLE ALREADY. (BY CABLK-PRBSS ASSOCUTION-COrYRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIA* AND K.Z. CABLI ASSOCIATION.) (Received December 2nd, 9.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, December '2. The wateisido workers to-day are reaping the fruit of their decision not to work overtime. Practically all overseas and interSiato vessels in all ports are tied up, and the inter-State ami overseas export trade is paralysed. It is estimated that 1&5 vessels and 3-3.000 men have made idle by the opening moves in what threatens to bo a most, serious conflict. In Sydney alone 33 ships, with ii tonnage of 170,000, arc idle. The Trades Hall has estimated that if the trouble, extends., tho number of unemployed in the waterside- and in kindred "occupations in New South Wales will exceed 21,000. not including i-'o.OOO coal miners, should the trouble, as it threatens to do, lead to tho closing of the' coal initios: Of the vessels idle in Sydney, 1-3 are wool ships, whose quick loading is a matter of importance to meet tho overseas wool sales dates. The stoppage is also a heavy blow to the Christmas trade. Much interest centres in the steps the Federal and Stale Governments propose to adopt to meet the situation. Tho owners describe rumours that they might employ non-union labour as premature. Tho strike affects the whole of the marine transport group, including the seamen, watersiders, stewards, cooks, shipwrights, ships' painters, dockers, trolleymen, draymen, and coal lumpers. Representatives of every section of this eroup' are Ihmue: summoned to a conference in Melbourne, witji the object of establishing control and direction of industrial activity in tho dispute. In Melbourne the wharves to-day presented a desolate appearance. Excepting for tho loading of one Commonwealth steamer, all work was at a standstill. The shipowners arc awaiting advices from other inter-State ports before attemntimr to evolve, a definito policy for the future. Ono of them declared that there was no chance of a compromise. Tho owners would fight to a finish.

OWNERS CONFER.

THE ISSUES DEFINED. (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received December. 2nd, 11.10 p.m.) MELBOURNE, December 2. After the shipowners' conference today, a statement was issued that their policy remained unchanged. Mr Mathers, chairman of the Watersiders' Committeo of Management, asked if his members would agree to work overitmo if one pieking-up time was conceded, said that was only one of the two issues involved in tho dispute. The question of preference to members of tho Federation was the other issue. Not until both were conceded would the watersiders work overtime, pending the hearing of their claims by the Arbitration Court. Senator McLachlan, Assistant Federal Minister, is watching affairs on behalf of the Federal Government. He states that the Government does not intend to take immediate action, but the situation was being closely watched. During the day he held a conference with the chairman of the overseas agents and the Commonwealth shipowners, and the secretary of the Trades Hall Council. It is understood that the shipowners' conference to-day discussed the question of free labour, and will consider the matter further tomorrow. The main point is that they want a definite assurance of adequate protection if they establish, free labour bureaux.

OWNERS' DRASTIC STEP. UNION LEADERS TAKEN BY SURPRISE. (Australian and x.z. cable association.) MELBOURNE, December 2. The drastic action taken by the shipping owners caused a sensation in trade union circles. The officials were unable to deal fully with the changed position, and it is admitted that such a serious industrial deadlock was not expected when the trouble first arose. There was again wholesale condemnation of the tactics of the watersiders in having excluded all other union leaders from its consultations when the plan of campaign was being considered. Leading officials were at a loss to understand the stand taken by the watersiders, and expressed tho view that there were obligations on the union concerned immediately to consult the representative of other unions which have become involved before direct action was introduced. Pleas that the ship-owners should meet the watersiders in conference were again made by the secretary of the Federation and the secretary of the Port Phillip stevedores. The cost to tho oversea ship-owners is very heavy as the crews have been signed on for the round trip, and their wages will have to be paid until the ships' return to their home ports. It was estimated that when the ships tied up to-day, fully 10,000 workers, consisting of watersiders, carters, drivers, seamen, clerks. Customs men, shipping agents, coal lumpers, and other employees, would be made idle. It is expected that by the end of the week over 1000 ships' stewards also will be idle. Members of* the Carters' and Drivers' Union also have been affected. Several large carrying firms have already given a week's notice of dismissal to their employees. It is anticipated that more than 20.000 members of the Carters' and Drivers' Union throughout Australia will be affected within a few days. In view of the strike, the wool sales at Melbourne and Geelong have been postponed until such time as the buyers have a reasonable opportune of shipping the purchases.

FREE LABOUR. OWNERS CONSIDERING MEASURES. V ACSTRAUAX AND Sf.l. CABLE ASSOCIATIOiO SYDNEY. December 2. The shipowners arc determined not to give way to the men, and are now considering ;i plan for the establishment of a free labour bureau at every port in the Commonwealth. The strike has now enmeshed thousands of workers, who until the last day or two had but the slightest interest in the shipping: dispute, ami if anticipated developments occur to-day, a national crisis, rivalling in magnitude and consequences all previous industrial disturbances, is threatened. ISo far 00.000 workers have been made idle, and it is expected that if the dispute is not speedily settled many thousanls more will be affected. In a statement, the owners emphasise the gravity of the situation, and state that unemployment must spread through every industry until the workless men will be counted not by thousands, but'by the hundred thousand. It continues: "Wo sadly mistake the temper of Australian people if such conditions will be tolerated." The statement, concludes: "The honour of the Watersiders' Federation is apparently so poor a tiling that it is not worth a few hours' purchase." The Union Company is endeavouring to keep its steamers to schedule. The Maunganui and Marama are duo to sail to-day, and, if the necessity arises, will leave their cargo behind. Although a great part of the. new season's wool clip already has been shipped abroad, there remain many thousands of bales yet to be sold. Other lines of commerce were experiencing a busy period, and the inter-State trade at this time of tho year is usually very heavy. The skeleton service provided by the lines exempted from the Union's campaign will lie able to deal with only a very small portion of the shipping trade.

SUPPORT FOR OWNERS. RESOLUTION BY EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION. / (AUSTRALIAN AND tt.Z CABLB ASSOCIATION*.) SYDNEY, December 2. A meeting of the Council of the Employers' Federation carried a resolution .strongly condemning the militant action of the Watersiders' Federation in resorting to direct action and desiring publicly to announce that tho. shipowners have tho entire support of the Federation in tho fight to uphold tho law of the land and to soo that awards are faithfully carried out. If tho shipping dispute continues about 15,000 miners will be idle in a week. So far about twenty mines are idle in the northern coalfield, and tho Inter-State coal trade has already almost ceased. The majority of the workers 'who have been made idle on account of tho upheaval are strongly opposed to tho overtime strike, and it is belioved that a move will be made immediately to induce the leaders of the watersiders to declare the strike off and to submit their grievances to tho Commonwealth Arbitration Court. It is expected that a meeting of tho Marine Transport Group Unions will bo held at an early date to discuss a common policy for the guidance of workers during the strike.

20,000 MEN IDLE IN VICTORIA. (Received December 3rd, 12.40 a.m.) MELBOURNE, December 2. It is estimated that the shipowners' move in the.waterside strike has directly made idle 20,000 men in Victoria. Unless a settlement is reached before Christmas, many thousands more will be directly or indirectly, affected. Meantime, the loss in wages and to the industry through the paralysis of business is enormous.. STATEMENT BY MR BAVIN. (Received December 3rd, 12.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, December 2. In the Assembly, Mr Bavin announced that he had wired to Mr Bruce stating that his Government would cooperate with the Federal Government in any measures adopted in connexion with the waterside strike. MARAMA AND MAUNGANUI SAIL. Ik (AUSTBAUAN AND K.Z CABLB ASSOCIATION) (Received December 2nd, 11.10 p.m.) • SYDNEY, December 2. Both the Marama and the Maunganui got away on time, the only trouble experienced as a result of the strike being that the Marama was compelled to leave behind some 200 tons of her cargo, and the Maunganui a small portion cf hers. All inter-State ports report a complete cessation of waterfront activity, and cargo is piling up on the wharves, which aro already congested. The railways are reaping the benefit or a large amount of passenger and freight traffic intended for sea transit, but which is now diverted to the railways. PHOTOGRAPHER ATTACKED. ('AUSMALnS AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) ADELAIDE, December 2. The first strike.disorder occurred at Port Adelaide, where a Press photographer, after taking a snapshot of a number of the striking watersiders, was mobbed, and his camera and its contents were smashed. UNION COMPANY'S INTENTIONS. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TILBGBAK.) WELLINGTON, December 2. The effect of the Australian shipping trouble on inter-colonial services cannot be definitely predicted, but it is known that the Lnion Company will send the Aorangi to Sydney. It expects to dispatch the Marama from Sydney to Auckland and the Maunganui for Wellington on Saturday. The Makura loft Sydney yesterday for Wellington.

COAL STRIKE IN VICTORIA. (Received December 3rd, 12.40 a.m.) MELBOURNE, December 8. Because of the alleged employment of noD-union labour, the Sunbeam Austral coal mines, in the Korumburra district, and all mines controlled by Wallace and Winpcrly, in the Jumbunna and Outrun districts, have been declared black. This is the final of a longstanding dispute.

NOT A STRIKE. STATEMENT BY MR SEALE. I.AVBTRAMAX ANI> N.r,. C ATI MI ASSOCIATION.) (Received December 3rd, 1.30 a.m.) SYDNEY. December 2. Mr Scale, secretary of tho Watersiders' Federation, claims that it is a lockout as far as they are concerned. Thenwas no strike. They were willing to keep the wheels of industry moving »]■ to 5 o'clock, but the shipowners w« >v determined to iutlict great hardshii' and loss on the community by enfori-ini; their demands, and must carry the blame for the trouble which had arisen. FEDERAL PARLIAMENT. MR BRUCE'S MOTION CARRIED. UCSTKAMAS ANt> N.T.. CAMT. ASSOCIATION CANHF.RRA. December £. The House of Nopresontativcs. after an all night sitting, negatived Mr Charlton's amendment by 34 votes to 10, and carried Mr lirucc's motion by 33 votes to 10. In the course of the debate Mr Bruce said that the necessary labour for loading primary produce must be obtained. and it. would be essential to ensure adequate protection to those who ga\e service for that purpose. If that course became necessary, the Ministry would havo to get. into touch with the Stair Ministries and endeavour to arrange such protection. He added: "This Parliament has considerable power under tho Trimes Act. Tho Ministry can issue a proclamation declaring (hat Slate industrial unrest exists and then take any action it thinks necessary." Mr Charlton, in reply, said thai he had been in communication with Mr Nrnle, of tho Watersiders' Federation, and with Mr Holloway, secretary of the Melbourne. Trades Hall Council. Mr Scale's opinion was that Covernment action would only make the position worse. Mr Holloway declared that It would he a. fatal blunder for the Ministry to act at present. He was sure that the dispute could !>o settled. Mr Bruce hero interjected: "There will be no action by tho Cioverninent if there is a chance of settlement." Mr Charlton continued that, ho was prepared, in co-operation with Mr Bruce, to endeavour to bring the parties to the dispute together ami believed that the strike could be settled within two or three days. Mr Scullin told the House that 1m could, with authority, state that steps were being taken that within a few days would bring about a settlement, [Mr Brace's motion provides for cooperation between the Federal and Stato Governments to maintain order and ensure a continuance of the necessary sorvices. Mr Charlton's amendment called for a conference of the Oov. ernments and the parlies to the dispute to seek a means of settling it.]

MR BRUCE CAUTIOUS. (AUBTIULJAN ANt> N.Z. CAIILB ASSOCIATION.) (Received December 2nd, 9.15 p.m.) CANBERRA, December 2. When Mr Charlton asked Mr Hruco to supply information regarding tho watersiders' strike, tho Prime Minister requested that questions bn not. naked about tho strike without notice. The situation'was so delicate that ho was not going to run the risk of prejudicing it by unconsidered stnkv merits. However, he promised to do anything in his power to bring the two sides together and endeavour to effect an amicable settlement. GREAT INTEREST AT HOME. (AUSTRALIAN AND H.Z. CADLB ASSOCIATION.) (Received December 2nd, 10.40 p.m.) LONDON. December 2. British shipping and commercial interests are watching the Australian strike anxiously, and newspapers are giving prominence to cables concerning it. It is a tragio coincidence that while the news from Canberra reports Mr Bruce's reference to thousands of boxes of butter being left unloaded) a full column advertisement is appearing in tho "Daily Herald" urging housewives of tho workers to buy Australian butter as it is the best value offered: Tho Peninsular and Orient Company informed the "Daily Chroniclo" that it hoped tho Maloja would not be delayed more than a few days as it thought that the unloading will be able to proceed in the daytime. No decision has been taken regarding the other liners now on the voyage to Australia. Tho "Daily Express," under a front page streamer heading, recalls that tho 1925 strike, which cost millions of pounds before its collapse, was caused by tho seamen. This time the dock workers are responsible.

EFFECTS IN N.Z. SOUTH ISLAND SERVICES. Mr W. 11. Price, manager ill Cliristchurcli of the Union Steam Ship Company, indicated yesterday tliat probably tho shipping services between Australia and tho South Island will be affected as a result of the shipping trouble in Australia. Ho said that the Kairanga had nailed from Hobart for Now Zealand with timber, but she had to leave some of her cargo behind. Already the Wnikouaiti, which trades between Australia and tTio South Inland, is tied up. It is probable that the Manuka, due at Melbourne, will bo affected. As to the passenger service, Mr Price has not been advised yet, but tho uow.s from Sydney, lie said, seemed to suggest that an offorb was being made to maintain the passenger services as far as possible.' Tho Maunganui and Marama will bring passengers and mails, and probably some fruit. If the trouble continues, it is probable that steamers scheduled to leave New Zealand for Australia will be affected.