Vast Accumulation of Cargo In Sydney

Chronicle (Levin), 11 February 1947, Page 5

Vast Accumulation of Cargo In Sydney

Press Assn.

OTHER INDUSTRIES AFFECTED

By Telegraph

- Copyrigh .

Eeveived Monday 10.40 p.m. ' SYDNEY, Feb. 10. Thousands of men in other industries would be without work because oi the wharf holdup, said shipping representatives. There was now a vast accnmulation' oi cargo 011 the wharves and -ftn problem would soon become an industrial crisis. Since last Tuesday the Anstralian watersiders have refused to work overtime. Followmg the iinion -decision there was 110 work 011 Ihe Sydney wharves during the vveekend. The men will be compJetely idle 011 Wednesday whieh is the union's picnie clay. A spokesman for the shipotvners slud that the •union had re t'used laboiir to load food ships for Britain on Wednesday. The elimination of the niglit shift mainly afl'ects ships witJi the highest priorities such as vessels carrying food and wool. , The Aust ralasiun Couneil of Trade Unions, which should be ihe cliief uphokler of industrial arbitration, had now openly joined with the Commumsts in their attacks aimed at destroying arbi(rafion, .said Ihe Leader of the Opposition (Air.- R. (1. Alenzies). Tlie nation had i'allen into a state of midsummer madiiess. Every recent strike had been not against the employers as such but against the Fhifiey (iovel'nnient's own economic controls. "As the Oovernment is characterised mainly by a qneer mixture oi pigheaded silenee and complete inaetion eaeh struggle ends with a Government retreat, and thereiore with the eertainty that another contesf will be opened a week Jater. The imion leaders are now demanding tax cuts and the restoration of the deduction systein for l'amily taxpayers in plaee of the rebate system. Yet \vhen we oi tlie Opposition advocated these changes we were accused by ihe Labour leaders of political dishonesty." Judge Foster of the Arbitration Court, summoned representatives oi tlie Waterside Workers' Federation and shipowners to a eonferenco late today which is being held 'in caniera. Tlie watersiders meanI while are persisting in their reI iusal oi night work until their jclaiins ior a fortiiight's paid holiIday at £8 16s weekly and for 16s ippearance tnoney are satisfactoij 4y settlcd. The watersiders who refused night jobs in Sydney today received the custoniary two days' suspension which means that day labour, already short, will be more so than ever tomorroAv. Though the rates for day work on urgent ships 011 Wednesday would be £4 l'6s or two and a half times the ordinarv pav there will be nu takers as the day is set down for the watersiders' picnie.