SHIPPING DISPUTES

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1925, Page 3

SHIPPING DISPUTES

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. GAEL* ABBOCXAIION. OUTLOOK MORE HOPEFUL. SYDNEY, Jan, 12. Events of the week-end have Tendered the outlook ill the various Fitterfront disputes .less hopeful ftrafi during the past week. Preference to returned soldiers is to he enforced on the entire waterfront at Sydney. To-day all shipping and stevedoring companies will call for returned soldiers and they will not seek to ascertain whether the men belong to the Watersiders’ Federation or the Returned Soldiers’ Union, owing to men from the Returned Soldiers’ Union being employed on steamers on Saturday.

The Watersiders’ Federation’ states that the over-time strike will lie re-de-clared against any company which gives preference to labour from the Returned Soldiers’ Bureau. Another serious factor which lias entered into the waterside dispute is the difference between tlio shippers and Iho watersiders regarding the rates to he paid lor the loading of hulk cargoes. Sailed.—Waikouaiti for Bluff. HOSTILITIES COMMENCE. THREE MEN HOSPITAL LED. .STICKS, STONES AND HOOKS. (Received this day at B»a.tn.) SYDNEY, January 12. Hostilities have commenced between the Returned Soldiers’ Waterside Workers Union and the Waterside Workers Federnlion. A battle royal was waged at Millers’ Point when two factions clashed, three men, members of the Soldiers’ Union, being sent to the hospital. The trouble started at midday when a gang of federatiouists chased some soldiers. The hitter turned and fought and routed the aggressors, but not before damage was done. Sticks, hooks, ami blue metal were used during the melee, which was finally quelled by tile police. The steamers Opawa and City of Baghdad wore rendered idle because members of the Returned Soldiers’ Union were engaged for them and as soon as these were engaged the Waterside Federation members lelt the ships. OWNERS DISAGREE. MELBOURNE, January 13. In the Federal Arbitration Court Air Justice Powers fixed tlie .Mercantile Marine Olliees as the central picking up place. The owners would not agriVto this and withdrew their application. The ease was then adjourned. The Federal Government has announced that it has decided to intervene in the dispute. FEDERATION'S THREAT. SYDNEY. Jan. 13. The steamers Alatatua and Medic are also a Hooted as the result ol the employment: of men from the ltViurneil Soldiers’ Labour Exchange, lull it U expected that'all vessels will he minus, nod to-day by men from the Exchange. The position now assumes the same aspect as before the .Melbourne settlement. . Alembers of the Watersiders '•<■- deration state that further irritation tactics will he resorted to as long as the exchange remains open.