Overwhelming

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 1 December 1927, Page 5

Overwhelming

Odds Against Watersiders Short-Lived Strike Expected Much Free Labour Available [By Cable — Press Assn. — Copyright.) A Press Association message from Sydney states that the Trades Hall officials expect the overtime Strlka will be short lived because with the present amount of unemployment there will be no difficulty in securing free labour for the work which the strikers refuse to do. The Trades Hall officials also consider it doubtful whether the crews of oversea ships will support the strikers as the latter refused to support them during the seamen’s strike two years ago. Waterside officials at Sydney have decided that the strike should not extend to coast ships. It appears also that Inter-State vessels are also to be free from the overtime embargo. In the meantime several ships are tied up at Melbourne, Sydney, Hobart and Adelaide, and the crews of other ships, Including four Inter-State steamers, have been given 24 hours’ notice. The deadening effect of the strike is disclosed by the fact that the Geelong wool sales had to be postponed i owing to the buyers refusing to operate, fearing their wool would be held up by the strike.

TRADES HALL VHEWS. VOLUNTEER LABOUR FEARED (Received 1 10.45 a.m.) Sydney. December 1. Officials at the Trades Hall express the opinion that the strike will be short-lived and probably result iu the leaders of the Watersiders’ Federation capitulating, as tile, odds against the men are overwhelming. The men fear that if thev continue to refuse to work overtime a call will be made for free labour and. with the present aihount of unemployment, the owners will experience no difficulty iu seeming volunteers to do the work. While members of the seamen's unions would refuse to man inter-State vessels loaded byvolunteer labour, it is doubtful whether the crews of oversea ships would agree to support the strikers as th<local wharf labourers refused to support them during the British seamen’s strike two years ago. COASTAL AND INTER-STATE SHIPS. FREED FROM EMBARGO. (Received 1 11.5 a.m.) Sydney, December 1. Officials of the Watersiders’ Federation had a long conference with the leaders of the Seamen’s Union, and it was decided that the overtime strike should notfexteud to coastal ships The officials declined to give reasons why inter-State vessels should be free from the overtime embargo, but they made it clear that the watersiders would not transfer inter-State cargo from coastal vessels which bad been loaded by non-iueinbers of the Federation at coastal pon>, If the watersiders refute to work to-dav in accordance with the shipowners’ terms, a number of steamers will be laid up and the crews uaici off. In anticipation of a deadlock the crews of four inter-State sreamers have been given 24 hours’ notice, and other vessels will take similar action to-dav if the trouble is not settled. SHIPS TIED UP AT MELBOURNE. (Received 1, 11.5 a.m.) Mclbtur. ■ December 1. The refusal of the watei. accept the teim. m employment offered by the shipowners has rendered idle nine vessels, and in several cases the crews have been paid off and the ships tied up indefinitely. At the Geelong wool sales buyers refused to operate owing to the waterside dispute, and the sale was postponed until th© following day. ADELAIDE WATERFRONT IDLE. (Received 1. 10.45 a.m.) Adelaide, December 1. Tlie waterfront is idle following rhe refusal of the watersiders to give an undertaking to observe the awards and agreements. Seventeen vessels are idle as a result of seven carrying firms having given’ their employees several days' notice of termination of employment UNION STEAMERS UNAFFECTED (Received 1. 8.5 a.m.) Sydney. November 30. As the Union Company’s steamers do not work overtime, no trouble is anticipated in their getting away. It is rumoured- that the shipowners will take a decisive step tomorrow morning. Men attending the morning pick-up will be asked It thev are prepared to work right on, and if the reply is negative they will pot be put on the due work. INDICATIONS”OF LONG STRUGGLE. (Received 1. 8.5 a.m.) Sydney, November 30. The Sydney watersiders are now iu line with those at Melbourne. When at 5 o'clock they were picked to work overtime thev refused. This means that under the shipowners' terms all loading and unloading of overseas and inter-State vessels lias ceased and the ships are tied up. These latest developments are accepted as an indication that a long struggle is commencing. The Seamen’s Union Ims asked tho Waterside Federation to meet its representatives in conference to consider the future conduct of the dispute. It is stated that the seamen intend to urge that all ships throughout Australia lie declared black. At Newcastle the wharf labourers worked to-dny. but te-qigllt they I'lillowel tl:e I al c: S. ir.'y and de-

STATE LINE’S “STAB IN THE BACK.” (Received 1, 8.5 a.m.) Melbourne, November 30. Shipowners are incensed at the Com mon weal th Line standing aloof or giving them what they describe as “a stab in the back.” The city coal supplies are threatened, aiming the ships hung up being four colliers. The position will ho reviewed to-morow by the Trades Hall Council, when an effort will be made to force the Waterside Federation to consult the whole Labour movement. Over 30 overseas and inter-State vessels are in port. Those due to sail include the Kaponga, for New Zealand. In the Assembly, the Premier, Mr Hogan, stated he had been exerting every effort to effect a settlement of the dispute and hoped it would bo possible to prevent a general stoppage. At Fremantle work proceeded as usual at the wharves to-day. but it is expected that the men to-night will refuse overtime duties. EARLIER REPORTS. CHRISTMAS POSTPONEMENT DISCREDITED. Melbourne, November 30. Though an unofficial statement gained currency that the overtime strike had been postponed until after Christmas, the watersiders are not wo king to-day. Several hundred attended, the morning pick-up, but in view of the shipowners’ ukase that they would not take on men unless the latter agreed to work overtime, none of those offering signed on. Vigilance officers of the federation instructed men already engaged for to-day to continue work on the conditions on which thev were engaged, but to cease punctually at 5 o’clock. Work was continued on a few vessels. but all overseas seamers, including the Maloja are now tied up. Iti is not known whether the Maloja will remain at Melbourne or <ro to Sydney, her terminal port. Shelias 2000 tons of cargo for Melbourne and 3000 for Sydney. She landed 130 passengers at Melbourne and has 160 for Sydney and New Zealand. Mr Swanson, spokesman for Hie Overseas Shipping Association, stated that he placed little faith iu the report that the strike would be suspended until after Christmas. Information from shipping companies' officers who attended the morning pick-up was that the men had received definite instructions not to workovertime, and as this was one of the shipowners’ stipulations, no wharf labourers offered their services. AFTERNOON PICK-UP FAILS. Sydney. November 30. Although warned before engagement that they were engaged under the award conditions, including overtime. the waterside workers started work this morning. An attempt in the afernoon. however, to engage workers failed, the men saying that eight o’clock in the morning was tne time to engage them. It remains t° be seen what the developments will bo when men are wanted for overtime duty to-night. It is anticipated that' the crisis will then dov-fi Mr Seale, secretary of the Sydney branch of the Waterside Workers' Federation, confirmed the statement that the watersiders had reached an agreement with the Commonwealth Line to work overtime, and they were willing to make some agreement with the inter-State companies which did not possess any ulterior motives. The crew of the Kiwitea have been paid off. Further overseas vessels got away to-day. some without completing their loading. Sir William Clarkson, of tho Commonwealth Shipping Board, said today that the main bone of contention was the afternoon pick-up. That question did not concern the Commonwealth Line, as it did not require an afternoon pick-up. and because the line was not affected it had stood clear of the Shipowners’ Association in the matter. At Brisbane not a single wharf labourer offered his services under the shipowners’ stipulations at the morning’s pick-un. At Brisbane., failing to give the undertaking required bv the shipowners at the pick-up this morning, no waterside workers were engaged, and tlie loading and unl-’dim- <l vessels censed. Among the ships affected is the K.iiinngn 1 s'ding i"i Mow Zealand,