STAGNATION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 3 December 1927, Page 5

STAGNATION

MEN—SHIPS—INDUSTRY STRIKE’S FAR-REACHING EFFECTS. COLOSSAL LOSS IN WAGES ALONE. [By Cable — Press Assn. — Copyright,] The paralysing effect of the watersiders’ strike is now felt throughout the Commonwealth. Thousands of men in industries outside of shipping are already thrown out of employment, and their numbers are rapidly increasing. The coal-miners, always the first to suffer by the dislocation of shipping, are already in large numbers out of work, and interstate commerce is stated at a standstill. Efforts are being made by the Federal Government and Trades Hall representatives, in conference together, to settle the dispute, but the waterside officials re-iterate their determination that no overtime shall be worked. The shipowners, on their part, declare that there is no chance of their accepting a compromise. DESOLATION AT WATEFRRONT. (Received 3, 10.45 a.m.) Sydney, Dec. 3. As the strike is developing the effects are becoming more widespread. Many thousands of men are thrown dpi of work throughout the Commonwealth, involving colossal loss to industry. All inter-State commerce has ceased and the loss in wages alone is estimated at £30,000 daily. The waterfront at Sydney presents a desolate appearance, for, apart from the few ships which are exempted from the operations of the strike, the harbour is filled with idle ships and the wharves are deserted.

It is expected to-day that 10,000 miners m the northern coalfields will be thrown out of employment as a result of the hold up of inter-State and oversea shipping. “LOCK-OUT; NOT STRIKE." WATERSIDERS’ CONTENTION. (Received 3, 8.5 a.m.) Sydney, Dec. 2. Mr. Seale, secretary of the watersiders, claims that it is a lock-out. So far as they are concerned there is no strike. They are willing to keep the wheels of industry going up to 5 o’clock, but- the shipowners are determined to inflict real hardship and loss on the community by enlorcing their demands and they must carry the blame for the trouble which has arisen. It is estimated that 135 vessels and 35,000 men have been idled by the opening moves in what threatens to bo a most serious conflict. In Sydney alone 33 ships, with a tonnage of 170,000, are idle. The Trades Hall estimates that if the trouble extends the number of unemployed in waterside and kindred occupations in New South Wales will exceed 21,000, not including 25,1X10 coal miners should tho trouble, ns it threatens to do, lead to tho closing of the coal mines. Of the vessels idle in Sydney, 15 are wool ships, whose quick loading is a matter of importance to meet overseas wool sales dates. The stoppage is also a heavy blow to interstate shipowners, who were preparing to handle the heavy Christmas trade. The strike affects the whole marine transport ground, including seamen, watersiders, stewards, cooks, shipwrights, ship painters, dockers, trolly and draymen and coal lumpers. Representatives of every section of this ground are being summoned to a conference in Melbourne with the object of establishing control mid direction of industrial activity in the dispute. In’ the Assembly Mr. Bavin announced that he had wired Mr. Bruce that the Government would cooperate with the Federal Government iu any measures adopted in the waterside strike.

SUGGESTION FOR ARBITRATION COURT. CONFERENCE OF ALL PARTIES. (Received 3 12.20 p.m.) Melbourne, Bee. 3. The shipowners decided that if the dispute is not speedily settled a number of steamers at present tide up shall sail without discharging or loading cargo. At a conference of representatives of tho Seamen’s Union with tho management committee of the watersiders, tho seamen urged that there should bo joint control of the dispute and that other organisations whose members were already involved should immediately bo considered bcfyiro the strike developed further and thousands of other unioists were made idle. Since tho beginning of the strike tho watersiders have adopted the attitude that they did not want intervention by other organisations, but this policy has relaxed in tlie last few days ami, after their conferring with the Australian and Now Zealand Council of Trades Unions, tho latter, in an official statement, says the Council is taking steps to intervene with a view to arriving at a settlement of the dispute. Tho Council is endeavouring to induce tho Arbitration Court to move in tho matter. Plans are also formulating for convening an inter-State Conference of all the unions concernd and there ia also a probability that the Federal Ministry will be approached with a view to eliciting its assistance. MORE SERIOUS POSITION. It is contended that the Arbitration Court is now faced with a much more serious position than it was when the dispute was only between the shipowners and the watersiders, because practically every federated union is now either directly or Indirectly affected. That aspect made it absolutely imperative that the Court, which was tho recognised authority for the settlement of dis-

putes, should intervene without further delay. It is therefore suggested that the Court call a compulsory conference of the parties to the dispute. EFFORTS FOR SETTLEMENT, (Received 3, 10.45 a.m.) Melbourne, Dec. 3. Senator McLachlan, who is watching affairs on behalf of the Federal Government, after separate conferences with representatives of the Oversea Shipping Association and the Commonwealth Shipowners’ Association, and the secretary of the Melbourne Trades Hall Council, said that he was more hopeful of an early settlement than he had been prior to the conferences. It is understood that further conferences are being held to-day. Efforts were made by the officials of the Australian and New Zealand Council of Trades Unions and the secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council to open negotiations for the settlement ot the dispute. After these officials had conferred with the Federal management committee of the Watersiders’ Federation, it was announced that a further representation would be made with the view of obtaining the intervention of the Arbitration Court. In the event of this course failing to bring about the required result, a conference of all the waterside organisations in the Commonwealth will immediately be convened to frame a common strike policy.

Excepting the loading of one Commonwealth steamer, all work at the waterfront is at a standstill. Shipowners are awaiting advices from other inter-State ports before attempting to evolve a definite policy for the future. One of them declared that there was no chance of a compromise; the owners would fight to a finish.

It is estimated that the shipowners’ move in the waterside strike has directly idled 20,000 in Victoria. Unless a settlement is reached btefore Christmas many thousands more will be directly and indirectly affected. Meantime the loss of wages and to industry through the paralysing of business is enormous.

After the shipowners’ conference yesterday a statement was issued that their policy remained unchanged. Mr. Mathers, chairman of the watersiders’ committee of management, asked if his members would agree to work overtime if one picking up time was conceded, said that was only one of two issues involved in the dispute. The question of preference to members of the federation was the other issue. Not until both were conceded would the watersiders work overtime, pending the hearing of their claims bv the Arbitration Court. Senator McLachlan states that the Government does not intend to take immediate action, but the situation is being closely watched. It is understood the shipowners’ conference yesterday discussed the question of free labour and will consider the matter further to-day. The main point is that they want a definite assurance of adequate protection if they establish free labour bureaux. BUTTER LEFT UNLOADED. London, Dec. 2. British shipping and commercial interests are,watching the Australian strike anxiously. Tire newspapers are giving prominence to cables. It is a tragic coincidence that while news from Canberra reports Mr. Bruce's reference to thousands of boxes of butter being left unloaded, a full column advertisement is appearing in the “Daily Herald’’ urging the housewives of workers to buy Australian butter, the best value offered. The Peninsular Company informed the “Daily Chronicle’’ that it hoped the Maloja would be be delayed more than a few days, as it thought unloading would be able to proceed in daytime. No decision has been taken regarding other liners en voyage to Australia. The “Daily Express,” under a front page streamer heading, recalls that the 1925 strike, which cost millions before its collapse, was caused by the seamen! This time the dock workers are responsible.—(A .and N Z.) STEAMERS SAIL FOR NEW ZEALAND. Sydney, Dec. 2. The Maunganui sailed for Wellington and the Marama for Auckland. Both got away on time, the only trouble experienced as a result of the strike being that the Marama was compelled to leave behind some 200 tons of cargo and the Maunganui a small portion.