THE H.B. TRIBUNE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1927 AUSTRALIAN LABOUR TROUBLES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 25 November 1927, Page 4

THE H.B. TRIBUNE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1927 AUSTRALIAN LABOUR TROUBLES

rpHE indications given by the cable messages coming to us from Australia during the last week or two point very ominously toward the posisbility, perhaps it would be better called probability, of a big dislocation of the Commonwealth’s marine transport. There may also be read into them a suggestion that the. treuble may even react upon the Dominion. The most prominent feature in the case for the time being is the strike of the waterside workers, which, ostensibly at any rate, originated in a dispute in connection with overtime rates. According to the latest word to hand at time of writing the watersiders base their complaint upon the delays on the part of the Arbitration Court in complying with their demand for a revision of the award at present in force. On the other hand, it is alleged by the shipping companies that, while both they themselves and the Court have exhibited every inclination to meet the unions reasonably, the latter have persistently flouted the award whose term is still current; thus intimating that there is no real disposition on their part to find a rational solution. One of the judges of the Court is even quoted as saying that there is little use in its reconsidering matters when there seems so little prospect of its findings being observed. There would appear, however, to be some hope raised by a message, to hand since the foregoing was written, which intimates the likelihood of the Council or Trade Unions taking a hand with a view to terminating the movement that is now afoot. Apparently this body resents the hasty action of the watersiders in launching a strike without in any way consulting the interests of the thousands of other unionists who must be indirectly affected by it. This, however, seems to be an aspect of the case to which neither watersiders nor seamen in Australia have hitherto paid any very great regard. The serious losses and hardships imposed upon their fellow workers appear to have no concern for them, and their own immediate interests to be the only ones worth studying. How far, if such is really intended, the intervention of the Council will prove effective is problematical. It is spoken of as likely to be of a ‘‘disciplinary” character, and that is the kind of thing to which a body of such composition as the watersiders’ union is not at all likely to submit without a struggle. On the other hand, however, there does not seem to be anything like entire unanimity even among the watersiders of the different ports, and this perhaps may be the most hopeful symptom in the position as it stands at present. Behind the waterside workers’ strike there also looms the possibility of a like movement among the seamen. The Federal Government has now under parliamentary discussion at Canberra a proposal to get rid of the ships of the ocean going Commonwealth

Line. Owing to the heavy losses that have been incurred in the running of these steamers such a step has been in contemplation for some time now. Some of the ships have, in fact, been under public offer for the last twelve months or more, but always subject to the condition that they should be manned by crews drawing the Australian rates of pay. That condition has stood effectually in the way of any outside bidding being made, and it is now proposed that it should be withdrawn. As we were told last week, the Australian Seamen’s Union has intimated that if this course is pursued, not only the ships sold but all other shipping belonging to any purchasing company will be declared “black,” with a possibility of the embargo being extended still further. Whether the Federal Government will carry out its purpose remains to be seen, for there is considerable opposition to it offered by members of the Country Party in the House, and this may have to be regarded. But if it does, more marine transport troubles are almost assured. Incidentally, it may be mentioned that the Commonwealth Line, though in Government ownership, has suffered in common with private shipping enterprises, perhaps even more so, from the many disturbances which the transport workers and the seamen have occasioned since it was first brought into being. In this case, at any rate, “nationalisation” has proved quite ineffective in staying the strikers’ hands.