STILL STAGNATE

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

STILL STAGNATE

PORTS OF AUSTRALIA COAL MINES PARALYSED. THE SPREAD OF UNEMPLOYMENT. i (By Cable — Press Assn. — Copyright.] (Received 5 9.55 a.m.) Sydney, Dec. 5. The strike position in Sydney is unchanged. There is plenty of free labour ottering but. as a bureau has not yet been established, ii was refused. Several additional vessels were tied up and during the week-end there were only two departures and in both instances much cargo had tn be left behind. Th© liner Maloja. one al Sydney to-day, is already four days late and was compelled to bring the cargo, which it was intended to land at Melbourne, to Sydney. The Waterside!’?' Federation claims that there is no justification for the shipowners laying up all the ships because the wharf labourers refused to work overtime, and contends that the award makes it optional for the men to refuse work after 5 o’clock in the evening, and, by refusing overtime, they are not violating the award. As a result of the shipping striae only two out of forty mines in she northern fields will be working to. day, and throwing out ot employment 15,000 miners, while 3000 miners are already unemployed in the southern field.

It is anticipated that by the middle of the week 45.000 workers will be unemployed in New South Wales and Victoria. A number of representatives cf overseas owners left Sydney last night for Melbourne, where important conferences will he held next week -o discuss the strike position. JUDGE BEEBY’S ATTITUDE. AWARD MIST BE OBSERVED FIRST (Received 5, 9.55 a.m.) Melbourne, Dec. 5. There is much speculation regarding the possibilities of hearing the plaints of both parties in the dispute before Judge Becbv in the Arbitra tion Court to-day as when Judge Beeby had the case of the men before him some months ago he refused to listen to them until they agreed to work under the tenns of the award THE LOCKOUT CONTENTION. (Received 5, 9.55 a.m.) Adelaide, Dec. 5. Tile watersiders claim that as the men ottered to work coastal vessels on Saturday and none ot them were picked up the owners instituted a lockout. All coastal shipping is now idle. Another large carrying Arm gave all its employees notice of dismissal on Saturday. The secretary or the Cairns (Queensland! brunch of the Watersiders’ Federation has received notice from the management committee ot the Federation that when the steamer Kallatina arrives she is to be worked overtime if necessary, "CARRY UN.” ADVICE TO BRITISH SEAMEN. (Received 5. 11.40 a.m.) London, Dee. 4. Mr. Jarman, secretary of the Liverpool branch of the Seamen’s Union, has gone to London to discuss the Australian deadlock with Mr. Havelock Wilson. .Mr. Jarman says. ‘‘We will advise our members in Australia to carry on. The labourites are unlikely to be successful in pulling them out after their treatment jf them in the former strike. Some of these men are still stranded in Australia. EARLIER CABLES. FIRST MOVE FOB SETTLEMENT Melbourne, Dec, 4. The first definite move in the way of settlement of the watersiders’ strike was made yesterday by Mr Crofts, secretary of the Federal Trade Unions committee, telegraph ing Mr. Bruce offering to give all possible assistance to-morrow to secure an amicable settlement. Cross plaints by the Waterside Workers’ Federation and the Com monwealth Steamship Owners’ Association anfl other shipowners involved will be mentioned tn the: Federal Arbitration Court in Melbourne tomorrow. It is understood the follow ing terms of settlement are to bo suggested unofficially by the union meditators to the Court officials:— That the overtime strike be declared off That the men resume work at all ports under award conditions. That the question of one or two pick-ups be left to the board ot reference. That the eourf near immediately the men’s log claims

WATERSIDERS FIGHTING MAN IFESTO.

The management committee of the Waterside Workers’ Federation, in an official statement, declares that it has accepted the challenge of the shipowners and will use all the forces at its command to support its position. The statement adds: "The committee of management has made every endeavour to localise the d.s. pute to its own occupations,” After dealing with the attitudes 01 the two sides to the dispute, the statement goes on: "The shipowners, to cover up the weakness of their position and cozifuse the public minds as to the issue, have launched what they are pleased to call an iiltiiaatnm which is the direct result of their failure to stampede our members.” The crews of vessels are being paid off as they reach port. The steamer Port Denison got away for New Zealand On Friday. The wliarr labourers attended pickups in Adelaide yesterday, but thenservices were not required. While the men in Adelaide are obeying the orders of the board ot management, they appear individually to have little heart in the struggle. ISOLATION OF AUSTRALIA. POSITION FORCED ON OWNERS. London, Dec. 3. British and foreign shipowners trading with Australia have issued a statement pointing out that Australia will, in a short time, be completely isolated, asserting that the present deadlock was forced upon them by the Workers' Federation treating the conditions of the Arbitration Courts contempuously. The shipowners have no wish to prolong the stoppage, but unless the men are prepared to accept the condition* laid down by the court, it will be necessary, in order to prevent complete paralysis of trade, to take prompt steps to obtain any labour, including watersiders, if they are willing, which may come forward on the terms of the awards.

The Seamen’s Union and>Transport Workers’ Union have adopted a wait and see attitude in connection with the Australian strike. Neithef has up to the present received official nows from Australia, and they <!<> not contemplate action.—(A. mid N'.Z.)