MEN SEEK PEACE

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19177, 7 December 1927, Page 11

MEN SEEK PEACE

THE WATERSIDERS'

STRIKE.

PICK-UP QUESTION THE OBSTACLE.

JUDGE BEEBY'S OFFER

ACCEPTED. (BT CABLE—PBESS ASSOCIATIOH— COPYRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN AND H.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

(Received December 6th, 8.20 p.m.)

MELBOURNE, December 6.

The conference between parties to the waterside strike was postponed from 10 a.m. till 3 p.m. to enablo the shipowners to conclude the preparation of a statement they are submitting to the conference. In the meantime the watersiders' Committee of Management carried a resolution which will be forwarded to the Court, advising all branches of the Federation that they must abide by awards of the Court, and that such local rules as are in conflict with legally-ob-tained conditions must be deleted.

The committee adds: "As previously instructed, the committee accepts the offer of Judge Beeby to deal with the question of one or two pick-ups, and is prepared to declare the overtime strike off." The conference discussions will be held in camera.

The owners explain that they only consented to attend the conference out of courtesy to the Judge.- The exemption of the pick-up question from the guarantees given by the watersiders, they claim, has taken away the only baSis for peace negotiations which the owners would recognise. One doclared that the only terms on which the owners would meet tho men was the wholo award and nothing but the whole award, which recognises two pick-ups. It is considered likely in shipping circles that if the conference should prove futile the shipowners will lose no time in taking steps to work the ships without the assistance of the Waterside Federation.

A HITCH OCCURS.

(AUSTRALIA* AND H.Z. CABLB ASSOCIATION.) (Received December 6th, 10.55 p.m.)

MELBOURNE, December 6,

Late this afternoon it was announced that a hitch had occurred ill the Arbitration Court's attempt to settle the waterside dispute, and that the proposed conference between the shipowners and the watersiders had been postponed till 10.30 to-morrow morning. The shipowners' representatives, upon arrival at the Court, were advised of the postponement, but no explanation was given as to the nature of the hitch.

WATERFRONT STRIKES

A SUGGESTED REMEDY

(AUSTRALIAN AND N..'.. CABLE ASSOCIATION'.)

SYDNEY, December 6,

Officials of the Permanent and Casual Waterside Workers' Union liavi submitted a schertie tb the shipowners, purporting to provide a solution to the interminable iiumber of strikes on the waterfront. The Union asks that the employers withdraw their preference from the Waterside Workers' Federation and transfer it to the Permanent and Casual Watersiders' Union. It claims that if that were done work would be resumed immediately throughout the Commonwealth. The Permanent and Casual Watersiders' Unioh would then apply for a Federal award, and within a short space of time there would be no further hold-up of shipping, or loss of employment.

OWNERS DETERMINED.

NO COMPROMISE OVER AWARD

(AUSTRALIAN A«jt> N.Z. CABLB ASSOCIATION.)

(Received December 6th, 11.55 p.m.)

MELBOURNE, December 6

After the shipowners' conference today the statement was made by one representative that the time had come when the shipowners could not allow themselves to be overruled by their employees (in the waterfront. Constant pin-prioking by the men was not conducive to eftcient working and wasted the time and money of the owners and the and, indirectly. of .the public. The owners would stand firmly by the award and every condition of the owners agreements observance of which could be the only basis of settlement so far as they were concerned. Another representative said the men had little to complain of under the award. Many received at times £l4 to £lo a week, while the amount or work done by tho gangs had decreased At one time it was a common thing for a grtng td work twenty tons of cargo per day, but now the average was thirteen tons.

THE IDLE MINES. (At'STItALIAK AND K.«. CABLK ASSOCIATION.) (Received December 6th, $.45 p-m.)

SYDNEY, December 6. The removal of pit ponies from the idle coal mines has been commenced. Several more vessels arrived tc-daj, and were tied up. A large number of watersiders haunt the wharves daily in search of work, but none, is taken on.

THE ULIMAROA. SERVICE TO CONTINUE.

(AUSTRALIA* AXD K.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION)

SYDNEY, December 6. The owners of the Ulimaroa, which will be the first passenger steamer in the New Zealand service to be affected by the strike, state that they will continue the service, even if they have to keep her cargo in the hoias. A call will not be made for wharf labourers unless the strike is fe t ed, and the vessel will commence her return voyage on Friday