Queensland Watersiders To Resume Work

Chronicle (Levin), 6 April 1948, Page 5

Queensland Watersiders To Resume Work

Received Tuesdav, 8 p.m. BRISBAXE, April 5. At a mass meeting to-dav, striking Qneensland watersiders decided to retnrn to work to-niorrow niorning. Fnofficial sources tip that the railwaymen will also be back to-niorrow but the date of return has not yet be'en fixed by the disputees committee. The watersiders also earried a resolution condeinuing the action of the State Industrial Fourt in imprisoning a Federal councillor of the Amalgamated Engineering Fnion, iMr. E. .1. Rowe, and demanding his ifhmediate release. The disputes committee has appealed to the unions to deniand his release, but indications are that only the Cominunist controlled unions will respond. Rowe ate prison food 011 his lirst dav in gaol, but since then has received. many gifts from sympathisers. The release of Rowe is beyond the power of the Premier (Mr. Hanlon). JLt is open to Rowe at anv time to apply to the (tomptroller-Cfeneral of Prisons to infotnn the (Murt that he considers he has purged his contempt and desires to be brought before the bench. According to the terms of his sentenee he must lirst a])logise to the Fourt and pay a fine of £(i0, with £.'10 costs. Moderate unionists are uneasv because of the delay by tlie-Fentral Dis* nutes Fonnnittee in fixing the date for the raihvaynien to resume- work. Tliev described the reasons for the delay as: (1) A11 attenipt J)v Fommunist lead-"l-s to save t'ace. (2't The determination bv the connnittee to "get square ' ' with ; lie rank and (ile for demanding an ■ Mid to the strike before the Fommun-

ist leaders were ready. (8) An attempt by the commiTtee to keep the eontrol oi the end of the dispute awav from the rank and lile. Ofticials of ,the moderate unions sav that it was extraordinarv that the committee did not recommend a delinite resumption date to tlie mass meetings on Fridav.