FIGHT TO FINISH

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 2 December 1927, Page 5

FIGHT TO FINISH

SHIP-OWNERS ADAMANT NATIONAL CRISIS THREATENED EVERY INDUSTRY AFFECTED. , IBy Cable — Press issn. — Copyright.! (Received 2, 10.5 a.m.) Sydney, Dec. 2. The shipowners are determined not to give way to the men and are now considering a plan for the establishment of a free labour bureau at every port in the Commonwealth. The strike has now enmeshed thousands of workers who, until the last day or two, had but the slightest interest in the shipping dispute and if the anticipated developments occur to-day a national crisis rivalling in magnitude and consequences all previous industrial disturbances is threatened. So far 50,000 workers have been rendered idle and it is expected that if the dispute is not speedily settled many thousands more will be affected. In a statement the owners emphasise the gravity of the situation and state that unemployment must spread through every industry until the workiess will be counted not by thousands but by hundreds of thousands. The statement -continues: “We sadly mistake the temper of the Australian people if such conditions will Lj tolerated.” The statement concludes: “The honour of the Watersiders’ Federation is apparently so poor a thing that it is not worth a few hours purchase.” It is anticipated that by Sunday oversea vessels of a total tonnage of 160,000 and inter-State vessels of a total of 65,000 will idle in Sydney alone. The Union Company is endeavouring to keep its steamers to schedule. The Maunganui and Marama are due to sail to-day and if the necessity arises will leave their cargo behind. Although a great part of the new season's wool clip has already been shipped abroad, there remain many thousands of bales yet to be sold. Other lines of commerce were experiencing a busy period, and interstate trade at this time of the year is usually very heavy. A skeleton service provided by lines exempted from the union’s campaign will be able to deal with only a very small portion of the shippin gtrade.

SENSATION IN TRADES UNION CIRCLES. WATERSIDERS’ TACTICS CONDEMNED. (Received 2, 11.50 pa.m.) Melbourne, Dec. 2. The drastic action taken by shipping owners caused a sensation in Trade Union circles. Officials were unable to deal fully with the changed position and it is admitted that such a serious industrial dcalock was not expected when the trouble first arose. There was again wholesale condcmntion of the tactics of the watersiders in having excluded all other Union leaders from its consultations when the plan of campaign was being considered. Leading officials were at a loss to understand the stand taken by the water-siders and expressed the view that there was an obligation on the Union concerned immediately to consult representatives of the other Unions which have become involved before direct action is introduced. A plea that the shipowners should meet 'the watersiders in .conference was again made by the secretary the Federation and the secretary of the Fort Phillip stevondores. SHIPS TIED UP—CREWS PAID OFF.

A. number of ships arc already tied up and the crews paid off, ana many more are expected to be affected today. Tire cost to oversea owners is very heavy as crews have been signed on for the round trip and their wages will have to be paid until the ships return to their homo ports. It is estimated that when the ships tied up to-day fully 10,000 workers, consisting of watersiders, carters drivers, seamen, clerks, Customs and shipping agents', coal lumpers, and other employees will he rendereel idle. It is expected that by the end of I he week over 1000 ships’ stewards will also bo idle. Members of the Carters’ and-Driv-ers’ Union arc also affected. Several large carrying firms have alreadygiven a week’s notice of dismissal. It is anticipated that more than 20,000 members of the Carters’ and Drivers’ Union throughout Australia will be affected within a few days. WOOL SALES SALES POSTPONED. In view of the strike the wool sales at Melbourne and Geelong have been postponed until such time ns buyers have a reasonable opportunity ox shipping the wool purchased. DIRECT ACTION DENOUNCED (Received 2, 12.0 noon.) Sydney, Dec. 2. A meeting of the council of tho Employees’ Federation carried a resolution strongly condemning tho militant action of the Watersiders’ Federation in resorting to direct action and desiring publicly to announce that the shipowners have the entire support of the federation in their fight to uphold the law of the land and see that awards are faithfully carried out. If the shipping dispute continues about 15,000 miners will be rendered idle in a week. So far about 20 miners are idle in tho northern coalfield and the inter-State coal trade has already almost ceased WORKERS OPPOSED TO STRIKE 'I he majority of workers idle on account of the upheaval are strongly opposed to the overtime strike and it is believed a move will he made immediately to induce the leaders of the watersiders to declare the strike off and submit their grievances to the Commonwealth Arbtraton Court.. It is expected that a meeting of the marine transport group of unions will be held at an early date to discuss a common policy for the guidance of workers during the strike.

DISORDER AT ADELAIDE. (Received 3, 12.45 p.m.) Adelaide, Dec. 2. The first strike disorder occurred at Port Adelaide, where a press photo grapher, after taking a snapshot oi a number of striking watersiders, was mobbed and the camera and contents smashed. GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION. APPROVED AT CANBERRA.' AFTER STORMY DEBATE. Canberra, Dec. 1. In the House of Representatives. Mr. Bruce moved the suspension ol standing orders to discuss the waterside trouble. A motion was moved setting out that, “In view of the serious unemployment and general distress which will result therefrom, the House pledges itself to support the Government in taking any steps it deems necessary, in conjunction with ' the Governments of the States, as far as possible to maintain law and order and to ensure the continuance of the services necessary to the whole Commonwealth. The Leader of the Opposition protesed and a long and heated wrangle followed. The Government was charged with attempting to get despotic legislation to deal with industrial troubles, which it had failed to get before. (Referring to the previous trouble, when an attempt was made to secure power to deport the seamen’s leaders, Walsh and Johnson.) An incessant uproar resulted in the suspension of Mr. Blakeley, on the motion of Mr. Bruce. Mr. Bruce, speaking to the resolution, said the Government wouldbe justified in interfering in a dispute where one of the parties was acting in flagrant contempt of an award which it had received. Shipping services had to be maintained and the Government would take action to see that they were, also to see that those who carried on the services would receive adequate protection. In an extreme case the Government would issue a proclamation under the Crimes Act. Mr Charlton moved nn amendment to Mr. Bruce’s resolution:—“That the House is of opinion that consultations should be held immediately between the Government and tho various State Governments allotted and the organisations concerned to come to some clear understanding of the matter at issue and the settlement thereof by means of conference and conciliation.” In the Senate a resolution similar to Mr. Bruce’s was carried, despite the protests of Labour Senators. ALL NIGHT SITTING. BRUCE’S MOTION CARRIED. (Received 2, 11.35 a.m.)

Canberra, Dec. 2. The House of Representatives, after au all night sitting, negatived Mr. Charlton’s amendment by. 31 votes to 15, and carried Mr. Stanley Bruce’s motion by 33 to 16. In the course of the debate Mr. Bruce said the necessary labour for loading primary produce must be obtained. It would be essential to ensure adequate protection to those who gave their services for that purpose. If that course became necessary the Ministry would have to get into touch with the State Ministries and endeavour to arrange such protection. He added: “This Parliament has considerable power under the Crimes Act. The Ministry can issue a proclamation declaring that a state of industrial unrest exists and then take what action it thinks necessary.” Mr. Charlton, in reply, said he had been in communication with Mr. Seale, of the Watersiders' Federation, and Mr. Holloway, secretary of the Melbourne Trades Flail Council. Mr. Seale’s opinion was that Government action would only make the position worse. Mr. Holloway declared it would he a fatal blunder for the Ministry to act at present. He was sure the dispute could be settled. Mr. Bruce here interjected: “There will be no action by the Government if there is a chance of settlement.” Mr. Charlton continued that he was prepared, in co-operation with Mr. Bruce, to endeavour to bring the parties to the dispute together, and he believed the strike could be settled within two or three days. Mr. Scullin told the House that he could with authority state that steps were being taken that Within a lew days would bring about a settlement. “NO OVERTIME.” WATERSIDERS DETERMINED. Sydney, Dec. 1. There was no lack of wharf labourers offering at the early pick-ups in Sydney this morning and they verbally expressed willingness to work overtime. On the strength of these promises they were allbwed to start work. They have a final opportunity of honouring the overtime promise to-night. Should they refuse the struggle will begin in earnest to-mor-row morning, when the shipowners will definitely ehforce the agreements, and the failure of the men to observe the agreements will mean that ships will be laid up. A meeting of Sydney watersiders to-day endorsed all the actions of the Federal waterside workers’ management committee. After the meeting Mr. Seale, secretary of the Sydney branch of the Federation, stated that there certainly would be no loading or discharging of cargo after five o’clock to-night.

Anticipating developments, Mcllwraiths have decided to lay up the steamer Karoola ,engaged in the passenger trade to Australia. Notice has also been given to three of the Adelaide Company’s vessels, Ulooloo, Arkaba and Aldings, to pay off the crews to-morrow. The Hoivard-Snii+h inter-State passenger liner Canberra will pay off upon arrival at Sydney this afternoon. The passenger bookings for Melbourne have been cancelled. The same company's cargo steamer Saros is. paying off to-mor-row. MELBOURNE WHARVES IDLE. Melbourne, Dec. 1. Few men offered nt to-day’s pickups and not one offered for work on the conditions enforced by the owners. When the steamer Dclkera arrived from Sydney five gangs of men accepted the owners’ terms and commenced unloading, but it is undgrstood they have no intention of continuing. hTc crews of the collier llehlmrn and the steamer Mildura have bten given notice. A combined conference of overseas shipping representatives ami Commonwealth steamship owners to-day issued tho following statement: “As it has been clearly apparent that the Wharf Labourers' Union and its membrxs will not comply with all the

terms and conditions of all awards, agreements and decisions of the board of reference, work on all steamers in all ports is to cease tonight.” This statement, however, does not refer to the Tasmanian services, which will still be maintained. It means that from five o’clock to-night all steamers, both overseas and interstate, with the exception of the Commonwealth and Petrie lines and the Tasmanian services, will bo tied up in every port in Australia. It is estimated that between 70 to 80 inter-State steamers will be rendered idle and some 2000 seamen paid off and returned to their )i°me ports. Shipping companies trading within a State are outside the dispute. OVERSEA OWNERS UNITED. AWARDS MUST OPERATE. London, Nov. 30. A meeting of representative British owners and managers in London considered the Australian embroglio and reached the conclusion that the action of the watersiders has resulted in chaos which bears no relation to awards or orders of the Arbitration Court. The companies point out that they are only looking for due recognition of awards. Such a matter as the refusal to load butter brought from Sydney in an inter-State vessel, on the ground that they did not know whether it was declared black, is absolutely contrary to the awards of the Industrial Court. Hence the managers consider it essential to notify the workers that all cargo in Australian ports must in future he worked in strict accordance with the terms ordered by the Courts.—(A. and N.Z.)