SHIPPING STRIKE

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1927, Page 1

SHIPPING STRIKE

by TEL>.on,ven — pnESS assn’., copyright, DIVIDED OPINION. MELBOURNE. Dec. G. The Conference between the parties to the Waterside strike was postponed from ten in the morning to threo in the afternoon to enable the shipowners to conclude the preparation of a statement they are submitting to the conference. In the meantime the Watersiders Committee of Management carried a resolution which was forwarded to the Court, advising all branches of the Federation that they must abide by the awards of the Court and that .stick local rules as are in conflict with legally obtained conditions, must be deleted. The Committee adds: As previously instructed, the Committee ar-

eepts the offer of Judge Booby to deal with the question of one or two pickups, and is prepared to declare the overtime strike' off. The conference discussions will be held in camera. The owners explain that they only consented to attend the conference out of courtesy to flic Judge. The exemption by the Watersiders, they claim lias taken away (lie only basis for peace negotiations, which the owners would recognise. One declared that tho only terms on which the owners would meet the men was the whole award, and nothing hut the whole award, which recognises two pick-ups. It is considered likely in shipping circles that if the conference should prove futile, the .shipowners will lose no time in taking steps to work the shi|>s without the assistance of the \\ atersidc Workers’ Federation.

After the Shipowners’ Conference today. a statement was made by one representative that the time had come when the shipowners could not allow themselves to he over-ruled by their employees on the waterfront, and that constant pin-pricking by the moil was not conducive to efficient working, and wasted the time and money of the owners and 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 he the only basis of a .settlement, so far as they are concerned.

Another representative said the men had little to complain of under the award. Many received at times £!■! to £ls weekly, while the amount of work done by the gangs bad decreased. At one lime it was a common tiling for a gang to work twenty tons of cargo per day. now the average was thirteen tons.

The removal of the 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 of work, lmt none are taken on.

FREE LABOR TO BE USED. "Received this day at 8 a.m.l MELBOURNE, Dee. G. After the Shipowners’ Conferences to-day an announcement was made on their behalf to-night, that as the wntersidors had continued to refuse to work under the conditions of the award, they had no alternative hut to call for other labour. The door, however. is still left open. They will not take the decisive step until the do-

eision of the Arbitration Court Conference called by Judge Beeby for tomorrow forenoon is known. If this should prove futile, they will then proceed to engage tree labour. It is understood that before tin’s decision is reached all the State Premiers will ho consulted by wire and assurances received that in the event of free labour being called in the necessary protection will he forthcoming. The decision could not he acted upon at once. It will take some days probably to assemble and regulate non-unionists. It is stated that Sydney owners are fully ready to follow any step token in Melbourne.

STRIKE POSITION GRAVE. PARTIES FAIL TO MEET. this dav at !).30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Dec. 7. Shipowners attended the Arbitration Court three times yesterday, but representatives of the Watersiders’ Federation failed to appear. It is stated their absence was due to the demands made by owners, which were not acceptable to the union, and which it claimed would have rendered the conference a failure. No steps were taken by the federation to end the dispute. When the meeting of the Federal Management Committee concluded it was announced the strike would continue until the position had reached a more satisfactory stage from the Union’s point of view.

The situation on the waterfront is now graver than it has been for several days, and the prospects of an early settlement is uncertain. Unless the pick-up dispute is more clearly defined between the parties there is every probability of the strike being further prolonged. CANBERRA, Dec. 5. In the House of Representatives, Mr Bruce announced that parties to the waterside dispute were summoned to appear at the Arbitration Court to-day.