SHIPPING STRIKE

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1927, Page 3

SHIPPING STRIKE

(Australian A N.Z. Cable Association.)

* LABOR STATEMENTS. MELBOURNE., Dec. 0

Following the proceedings at the Arbitration Court, a Conference of the Management Committee of the \\ utersiders’ Federation and Australian and New Zealand Council of Trades’ Unions was held. It was at one stage practically agreed that the strike should he declared off, hut then a hitch occurred, although it was claimed that unofficial overtures had been made to the representatives of the Shipowners, and an agreement on practically all points had been reached.

The Secretary of the AYn torsi dors’ Federation stated that the management committee had expected to receive a message indicating the intention of the Arbitration Court, but as no information was received the meeting was adjourned until to-day.

Other members of the Committee expressed the view that the entire onus of making arrangements for the Conference between the parties in dispute, should not bo left tr> the Watorsiders’ Federation to determine, and. claimed that the shipowners should have taken the initiative in the direction of convening the Conference, failing action being taken by the Court, authorities, but they declined.

What steps the Federation proposed to take regarding the assurances required by Judge Beebv for the observance of the award, the Trade Hall officials, who took the leading part in the negotiations during the day, said they strongly urged that the Federation should pass the resolution required by Judge Beeby, and the Federal Management Committee had agreed to accede td the request. They also asserted that, in addition to suspending the overtime strike, the Committee had consented to instruct the branches of the Federation to adhere strictly to the awards on condition that the Conference with the shipowners was arranged.

Efforts will ho renewed to-day in an endeavour to effect an immediate settlement of the dispute. SHIPOWNERS’ STATEMENT. SYDNEY. Dee. 6. A statement issued by the joint committee of the Oversea and Commonwealth Shipowners’ Association emphasises that the cause of the strike was not confined to a dispute, regarding one or two pick ups. The position, it states, lias become intolerable, owing to the lawlessness of the Union during the past three years, and owners have been forced at last to tie up their ships. It contends, that by using the ono pick up question, as a convenient red herring to draw across the unions’ trail, the Wntersiders’ Federation is striving to divqrt attention from the many other flagrant breaches of the award. By narrowing the issue in this way from a general non-observance of the award, to one of specific matter, the Federation is hoping to find its way out of the general compliance.

A SCHEME SUBMITTED. SYDNEY, Dec. 0

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 tbo waterfront. It asks that the employers with-draw their preference from the Waterside Workers’ Federation, and transfer it to the Permanent and Casual Wntersiders’ Union. It claims that if that is done, work would he 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 bo no further hold-up of shipping or loss of employment.

DAMAGE TO TRADE. SYDNEY, Dec. 6

Already the carriers, warehousemen, storemen, 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 loss to industry that is yet incalculable. A virtual cessation of oversea and in-ter-State transport is preventing the manufacturers obtaining badly required raw' materials and making it impossible to fulfil some orders.

Employers’ organisations are viewing a continuance of the dispute with alarm, and members are considering the inauguration of means to prevent a collapse of industry. Already the position is acute ajnl retrenchment has commenced. Within a feu r days a number of firms will be compelled to work half time or close altogether.

Retail firms are also finding trade slack, as the result of loss of wages. If the strike continues, extra hands will not l>e employed as is customary. If it lasts a fortnight it will mean an appalling disaster and a collapse of industry and commerce, following which retail business everywhere will be faced

by a crisis. Already twelve thousand miners are idled, with a loss of their wages totalling £32,500 sterling per fortnight. ULIMAROA INTENTIONS. SYDNEY. Dec. 6. The owners of the Ulimaroa, which will be the first passenger steamer in the New Zealand service to be affected by the strike, state they will continue the service, even if they have to keep the cargo in the holds. A call will not l>o made for wharf labourers unless the strike is settled and the vessel will comment? her return voyage on Friday,