BLACK OUTLOOK

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 6 December 1927, Page 5

BLACK OUTLOOK

UNLESS STRIKE IS ENDED ALL INDUSTRIES SUFFER. RETAILERS FACE A CRISIS. [By Cable — Press Assn. — Copyright.] (Received 6, 11.50 a.m.) „ Sydney, Dec. 6. Already carriers, warehousemen, storemen, ths collieries, and many big emporiums awaiting consignments of seasonable goods are seriously affected by the strike, and its continuance will result in widespread unemployment and a loss to industry that is as yet incalculable. The virtual cessation of oversea and inter-State transport is preventing manufacturers obtaining locally badly required raw materials, and making it impossible to fulfil some orders, Employers’ organisations are viewing the continuance of the dispute with alarm, and members are considering the inaugurating of means to prevent the collapse of industry. Already the position is acute and retrenchment has commenced. Within a few days a number of firms will be compelled to work half time or close altogether. Retail firms are also finding trade slack with the resultant loss of wages. If the strike continues extra hands will not be employed as is customary at this season, and if it lasts a fortnight it will mean an appalling disaster and collapse of industry and commerce, following which retail business everywhere will be faced by a crisis. Already 12,000 miners are out of employment with a loss in their wages totalling £32,500 a fortnight. REAL BONE OF CONTENTION. GENERAL LAWLESSNESS OF UNION. (Received 6, 11.5 a.m.) Sydney, Dec. 6. A statement issued by the joint committee of the Oversea and Com. monwealth Shipowners’ Association emphasises that the cause of the strike is not confined to a dispute regarding whether there should be one or two pick-ups. The position, it states, has become intolerable owing to the lawlessness of the union during the past three years and the owners have been forced at last to tie up their ships. It contends that by using the “one pick-up” question as a convenient red herring 4 to draw across the union’s trail the Watersiders’ Federation is striving to divert attention from many other fragrant breaches of the award, By narrowing the issue in this way from a general non-observance of the award to one specific matter, the federation is hoping to find a way out of their general compliance with all its terms. SETTLEMENT NEARLY REACH.'. WHEN HITCH OCCURS. (Received 6, 10.40 a.m.) Melbourne, Dec. 6. Following the proceedings at the Arbitration Court, a conference of the management committee of the Watersiders’ Federation and the Australian and New Zealand Council of Trades Unions was held, and it was at one stage practically agree that the strike should be declared off, but then a hitch occurred. Although it was claimed that, unofficially, overtures had been made to the representatives of the shipowners and that an agreement on practically all points bad been reached, the secretary of the Watersiders’ Federation stated that the management committee had expected to receive a message indicating the intention of arbitration, but as no information had been received the meeting adjourned until to-day. Other members of the committee ex. pressed the view that the entire onus of making an arrangement for a conference between the parties to the dispute should not be left to the Watersiders’ Federation to determine, and claimed that the shipowners should have taken the initiative in the direction of convening a conference failing action being taken by the Court authorities. But they declined to state what steps the federation proposed to take regarding the assurances required by the Court. Before observing the award, the Trades Hall officials who took a leading part in negotiations during the day, said they strongly urged that the federation should pass the resolution required by Mr. Justice Beeby, and the Federal management committee had agreed to accede to their request. They also asserted that in addition to suspending the overtime strike the committee had consented to instruct branches of the federation to adhere strictly to awards on condition that a conference with the shipowners was arranged. Efforts will be renewed to-day in an endeavour to effect au immediate settlement of the dispute. A WAY OUT. CEASE PREFERENCE TO FEDERATION. (Received 6, 11.5 a.m.) Sydney, Dee. 6. Officials of the Permanent and Casual Waterside Workers’ Union submitted a scheme to the shipowners purporting to provide a solution to the interminable number of strikes on the waterfront. The union asks that employers withdraw their preference from the Waterside Workers’ Federation and transfer it to the Permanent and Casual Watersiders’ Union. The union claims that if that were done work would be resumed immediately throughout the Commonwealth. Permanent and casual watersiders would then apply for a Federal award, and within a short space of time there would be no further hold-up of shipping or loss of employment. UIJMAROA’S SAILINGS. OWNERS’ STATEMENT. (Received 6, 11.15 a.m.) Sydney, Dec. 6. The owners of the Ulimaroa, which will be the first passenger steamer in the New Zealand service to lie affected by the strike, state that they will continue the service even if they have to keep the cargo in the holds. A call will not be made for wharf labourers unless the strike is settled, and the vessel [will conimenec the re- . luru voyage on Friday.

EARLIER REPORTS. OPENING OF ARBITRATION COURT. Melbourne, Dee. 5. Hundreds of watersiders gathered at the Federal Arbitration Court this morning for the opening of the hearing of the watersiders’ overtime case. Judge Beeby, who presided, read a lengthy statement dealing with the events which led up to the difficulties. It seemed that an allegation had been made by thfe Watersiders’ Federation that they had been denied access to the Courts. Mr. Justice Beeby said the Court had been open to both parties since November. The hearing of the case had been delayed only because the union and the employees had not given the necessary guarantee that they would observe the conditions of the existing award, and would not preserve the dignity of the Court. If the unions were to have arbitration they must obey its awa'Ms. Tho Judge added that affidavits and evidence submitted to Court raised a strong presumption that after a long hearing and.the making of an award the employees’ union did not intend to accept the Court’s decision. Without the removal of that presumption it was impossible for the Court to hear the union.

The Judge’s request for a definite undertaking to abide by an award followed an appeal by Mr. Crofts, secretary of the Australasian Council of Trade Unions, that he should take tho parties into conference and make final efforts to have the case heard in open Court. Mr. Crofts added that a full assurance that the existing award would be obeyed could be obtained. Mr. Justice Beeby said the executive of the union must consider the matter, carry some definite resolution and submit it to the Court. There was an obstacle, and a very definite one, in the way of the Court functioning. for the present. Mr. Justice Beeby also sought, and was given an undertaking by the secretary of the Waterside Workers’ Federation, that if the dispute as to the second pickup could bo overcome assurance would be given enabling him to proceed with the hearing of the watersiders’ case. THE NECESSARY ASSURANCES. Mr. Crofts assured Mr. Justice Beeby that if there were any difficulties in the way of hearing the case he believed they could be overcome if he would only give the union an opportunity in conference of stating its side of the case. He undertook to give the necessary full assurances required from the executive. Mr. Justice Beeby, in a full sense of his responsibilitl, said he gave the union a definite chance of again working under tho arbitration system. If it decided it would not do so and the members would not observe awards, they then must take their own course. After receiving a promise that the required assurances would be obtained, Mr. Justice Beeby adjourned the court sine die. Subsequently the executive of the Waterside Federation met to discuss the position as laid down by Mr. Justice Beeby. It is expected a resolution will be carried as required by Mr. Justice Beeby, and that the overtime strike will be called off. Following on an afternoon meeting of tho Waterside Federation after the Arbitration Court proceedings, a statement was issued that the overtime strike was still on. THE SECOND PICK-UP. From tho proceedings in the Arbitration Court to-day, it appears that the men desire the settlement of the question of the second pick-up before going to a full conference with. the owners. The management committee takes the view that Mr. Justice Beeby’s statement meant that if the federation would give an undertaking to observe the awards he would deal with the question of one pick-up in conference and that the men would not have to resume two pick-ups before the full conference was granted. After a meeting of shipowners today it was learned that they regarded a preliminary conference to deal with the pick-up question as useless and ■that the whole of the matter in dispute should come before a full conference of the two sides, which possibly will be called to-morrow. SYDNEY WATERFRONT QUIET. WOMEN TAKE A HAND. Sydney Dec. 6. Everything is quiet_ along the waterfront. Some shipowners are utilising clerical employees to unload perishable cargo, and even some women employees are taking a hand. There is a more hopeful feeling tonight, in view of the doings of the Arbitration Court at Melbourne today, but the position is not clear. A meeting of the Employees’ Federation decided to support the shipowners’ attitude, and appointed a committee to deal with the position and any developments that may arise. All mines in the Newcastle district excepting two dosed to-day. Some 5000 laden coal trucks are standing on lines awaiting shipment. RISE IN PRICE OF POTATOES.

As a result of the strike stopping inter-State supplies, potatoes suddenly jumped from £7 to £l3 a ton. Supplies will now be confined practically to limited local sources.

Among tho vessels which arrived .at Sydney to-day were the mail steamer Maloja and White Star liner Vedic, both of which brought large quantities of cargo. They were unable to unload at Adelaide and Melbourne and they are now added to Sydney’s list of idle ships, which is steadily increasing. Mr. Seale, secretary of the watersiders, voiced an objection to lascars being allowed to remove the luggage of the Maoja's passengers. He said there were plenty of white Australians offering for the work, but their services were refused. He hoped the company was paying the same rates to the Irtscars as it paid members of the Watersiders’ Federation. LONDON “TIMES” COMMENT. WHAT PAST HISTORY SHOWS. London, Dec. 5. "The Times” says: ' “Once again the economic life of Australia is at a standstill. The situation is no less serious for being familiar. The past history of the industry shows that the Seamen’s Union and the waterside workers are seeking to control the maritime life of Australia, This explains the difficulty of reaching a settlement. The owners feel that if the present action of the union in dis(Coutinued at Foot of Next Column).

regarding the award of the Commonwealth Court is not resisted, the position will grow steadily worse. Behind the actual dispute regarding overtime lie vital questions of principle. The shipowners have taken their stand upon the award of the Arbitration Court al a time when the court is being increasingly criticised in Australia Episodes such as the present tend to destroy the reasonable measure of confidence requisite in business. The present trouble finds the Commonwealth line less perturbed than concerns which are endeavouring to pay their way, possibly on the ground that he that is down need fear no fall. The Commonwealth line has abandoned the other shipowners. There are quarters in which the action of the line will be so warmly applauded that further efforts will be made for its preservation. “While everything should be dtfne to save Australia from a grim Christmas, too high a price can be paid, for peace. The unions have been extremely successful in the past. Farseeing Australians have uttered a warning that the gulf between the cost of production in Australia and the rest of the world is growing dangerously wide. The day must come when trade union leaders will realise that they are trying to erect a vast structure of highly paid secondary industries upon insufficient foundations.’’— (“Times’’ cable.)-.