SHIPPING STRIKE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 December 1927, Page 2

SHIPPING STRIKE

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT,

MANY A’ESS ELS LAID UP. SYDNEY, Dee. 1

There was no lack of wharf labourers offering at the early pick-ups in Sydney this morning, ancl they verbally expressed their willingness to work overtime. On the strength of these promises, they were allowed to start work. They have a final opportunity of honouring the overtime promise tonight. Should they refuse, the struggle will begin in earnest to-morrow morning, when the shipowners will definitely enforce agreements, and the failure of the men to observe agreements will mean that ships will he laid up. A meeting of Sydney wntersiders today endorsed all the actions of the Federal AA’aterside AA'orkers’ Management Committee. After the meeting Mr Seale, Secretary of the Sydney Branch of the Federation, stated that there would certainly be no loading or discharging of cargo after five o’clock to-night.

Anticipating developments, Mcllwraith’s .decided to lay up the steamer Marvola, engaged in passenger trade to Australia. Notice also was given to three Adelaide companies’ vessels— Ulooloo, Arkaha and Aldinga—to pay off their crews to-morrqw. The How-ard-Smith Inter-State passenger liner Canberra will pay off upon arrival at Sydney this afternoon. The passenger bookings for Melbourne have been cancelled. The passenger steamer Saros is paying off to-morrow. MELBOURNE, Dec. 1.

A few men offered at to-day’s pickups, and no one offered to work on the conditions enforced by the owners. AA’hen the steamer Delkcra arrived from Sydney, gangs of men accepted the owners’ terms and commenced unloading, but it is understood that they have no intention of continuing. The crews of the, collier Hebburn and the steamer Mild lira have been given notice.

OAYNERS PRECIPITATE CRISIS, 'MELBOURNE, Dee. 1.

A combined conference of overseas shipping representatives and Commonwealth steamship owners to-day issued the following statement:— “ As it lias been clearly apparent that the AA’harf Labourers’ Union and its members will not comply with all the terms and conditions of all the awards, agreements and decisions of the Board of Reference, work on all steamers in all ports is to cease tonight.” This statement, however, does not refer to the Tasmanian services, which will still he maintained. It means that from five o’clock to-night, all steamers, both overseas and inter-State, with the exception of the Commonwealth, and Patrick Lines, and the Tasmanian services, will be tied up in every port ol Australia. It is estimated that between seventy and eighty inter-State steamers will be idled, and some two hundred seamen paid off, and returned to their home ports. The shipping companies trading within the State are outside the dispute.

BRITISH OAYNERS’ CONCLUSION, LONDON, Nov. 30.

A meeting representative of British owners and managers in London, considered the Australia embroglio, and reached the conclusion that the action of tlie wntersiders had resulted in chaos, which bears no relation to awards or orders of the Australian Courts. The companies point out that they are only looking for due recognition of awards. Such a matter as the refusal to load butter brought from Sydney in ail inter-State vessel, on the ground that they did not know whether it was declared “ black,” is absolutely contrary to the awards of the Industrial Court. Hence, the managers consider it essential to notify the workers that all cargo in Australian ports must in future be worked in strict accordance with the terms ordered by the Court.

MOVE-BY MR -BRUCE. CANBERRA, Dec. 1

In the House of Representatives, Mr Bruce moved the suspension of the standing orders to discuss the waterside trouble, the motion setting out that: “In view of the serious unemployment ami general distress which will result therefrom, this House pledges itself to support the Government in taking any steps it deems necessary in conjunction with the Governments of the States, as far as is possible, to maintain law and order, and to ensure a continuance of the services necessary to the whole Commonwealth.”

The Leader of the Opposition protested, and a long and heated wrangle followed. The Government was charged with attempting to get despotic legislation to deal with industrial trouble, which it bad failed to get before (referring to previous trouble, when an attempt was made to secure power to deport the seamen’s leaders, Walsh and Johnson). Incessant uproar resulted in the suspension of Mr Blakeley, on the motion of Mr Bruce. Mr Bruce, speaking to the resolution, said the Government would be justified in interfering in a dispute where one of tlie parties was acting in flagrant contempt of an award which it had received. The shipping services Had to he maintained, and the Government would take action to see that they were ; also to see that those who carried on the services would receive adequate protection. In an extreme case, the Government would issue a proclamation under the Crimes Act.

Mr Charlton moved an amendment to Mr Bruce’s resolution: ‘‘That this House is of the opinion that consultations should he held immediately between the Government and the various State Governments affected and the organisations concerned, to come to some clear understanding of the matter at issue, and a settlement thereof, by means of a conference and conciliation.” In the Senate, a resolution similar to Mr Bruce’s was carried, despite the protests of Labour Senators.