Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1927, Page 2

Ai'itoros strikes Australia has already earned an uneviablc notoriety as the natural In me of shipping strikes, am. so long as those who control the seamen’s unions and waterside workers* federations belong; to the Walsli-.lolm-son-Sealo class the trouble between ship owners and wage-earners is likely to lie perpetuated. On Monday week an “overtime” strike was started in Syd-

ney, the men refusing to work alter five o’clock. The men, will, of course, be heavy losers, as they got “time and a-half” for ovei-time, which works out at Is 3d per hour instead ol 2s lid, the ordinary wage. The Waterside Workers’ Federation complains that the Arbitration Court has refused to hear its complaints. In reply the Commonwealth Steamship Owners’ and the Overseas Shipping Association have stiiU'd officially that this is explained by the refusal of the waterside workers to give any guarantee that if tlieii demands are rejected they will abide |,y. the old award. Another difficulty has arisen through the action ot the Hisdon Electrolytic Zinc Company in loading a cargo with its own labour. The fact is that this method of saving time Inin been practised for many years, and the Arbitration Court, after hearing the evidence, has specifically refused to order a change in the.system. Then there is further trouble in West Australia.. Obviously, the quarrel m all its details is -open to jieneefii-l adjustment. But it is quite clear that this-strike, like so many of its predecessors, has been carefully and deliberately engineered by the agitators who have made it their life-work to paralyse capitalistic enterprise. It is actions such as-these which tries the patience of the general public regarding Labour organisations. They, of. course, have a great power to wield and they are not slow to do so in any emergency. In time of real crisis very little sympathy is extended to the general public, let- alone the unfortunate employees affected directly. The organisations are marshalled to the fullest extent, and a period akin to war declared. Refusing to work themselves they exercise all the control they can in preventing others to work. And often, as in the Australian case, they seek for nil the benefits to themselves. They nre not prepared to sulni’* 4 straight forwardly to the awards—excepting they are sure of gaining their demand, however unreasonable. They wish to play with loaded dice all the time. The Australian ease at present engaging attention is an instance in point of that general attitude, and

brings to mind the whole seriousness of the situation which must he necessity do a great deal to hold hack the general prosperity of the Commonwealth, or of any country similarly affected.