MEN LITTLE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 7 December 1927, Page 5

MEN LITTLE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT.

Melbourne, Dec. 6.

After the shipowners’ conference to-day, a statement was made by one representative that the time had come when the shipowners could not allow themselves to be over-ruled by their employees on the waterfront. Constant pin-pricking by the men was not conducive to efficient working and wasted the time and money of owners, consignees, and, indirectly, of the public. The owners would stand firmly by the award and every condition of the owners’ agreements, observance of which could be the only basis of settlement so far as they were concerned. Another representative said the men had little to complain of under the award. Many received at times £l4 to £l5 a week, while the amount of work done by gangs had decreased. At one time it was a common thing for a gang to work 20 tons of cargo per day. Now the average was 13 tons. ALBANY SHORT OF FOOD. (Received 7, 11.20 a.m.) Perth, Dec. 7. The president of tlie Albany Chamber of Commerce telegraphed to the associated steamship owners at Melbourne asking that in view of the shortage of provisions in Albany, exemption be granted to wharf labourers to work the cargo of the steamer Kooyong, which had arrived at Albany with a cargo of provisions. This is the first cargo to arrive for five weeks. BUTTER EXPORT PARALYSED. (Received 7, 11.5 a.m.) Sydney, Dec. 7. As a result of the strike, butter export has been brought to a standstills With the spring production, in full swing and still 1 increasing New South Wales 4ias a surplus over local requirements of 10,000 to 12,000 boxes weekly. Failing an early settlement of the strike the hopes of traders shipping some butter to London rest on the Commonwealth Line, but as it is only able to take a proportion of the exportable surplus efforts are being made to dispost of as much as possible locally, and with this object in view the price is further reduced one penny per pound. The export of stone fruits to New Zealand and North Queensland is cut off, and supplies are being thrown on the Sydney market at reduced prices. Five more steamers arrived yesterday and will be unable to discharge their cargo. The owners of the Ihumata have decided to call for labour and attempt to unload the At Melbourne the Comorin departed for London without loading her Melbourne cargo. There are now sixteen oversea and twenty-nine interstate steamers at Melbourne. A USEFUL COUNCIL. (Received 7, 11.20 a.m.) Brisbane, De«. 7. Tl> o Council of Railway Transport Unions, representative of stationmasters, traffic and maintenance employees,’guards, shunters, signalmen, and salaried officers’ unions, and the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen of Queensland, has been formed. The main object of the council is to investigate the circumstances and reasons for declaring "black” any commodity carried on the railways, and to determine what action shall be taken by the unions comprising the council should a dispute concerning "black” goods arise. It is estimated that the collective membership of the unions comprising the council is more than 60,000 and that it will have ample power to enforce its decisions. IDLE COAL PITS. Sydney, Dec. 6. The removal of pit ponies from idle coal mines has commenced. Several more vessels arrived to-day and were tied up. A large number of watersiders haunt the wharves daily in search for work, but none were taken