AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1928, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

(Australian Press Association.) SEA COOKS’ DISPUTE. MELBOURNE. May 7. At a special meeting of the Commonwealth •Steamship Owners Association, a letter was received from the General Secretary of the Marine Cooks’* Union of Sydney, asking for a conference to make an agreement to rsp's-ee the award which has just been cancelled. The Owners’ Association decided to advise the Union that no conference would he granted while direct action was persisted in, and that the owners had decided to give the Union until Wednesday next to man all the vessels, when required : as otherwise the owners will take whatever steps they consider 11 eeessary.

The officials of flic Australian Council of Trades Unions are now endeavouring to onen negotiations with the steamship owners for a settlement of the dispute.

SOVIET'S HAND AT WORK. Canberra. May 7

AJ legations that frequent dislocations of the shipping services are inspired by Soviet influences are quoted in the Federal Parliamentary Country Party in a bulletin, which states:— ’"The Council of Unions turns a deaf car to the words of the South Australian Seamen’s Secretary, who is convinced that the Soviet lias begun operations ill Australia to cause frequent dislocations in the maritime services, so that the Soviet can get trade instead. It has put in band arrangements for holding a Red Pacific “Unions Conference in Australia next year.

SYDN E Y fi ENS ATI ON

SYDNEY. May 7

The five men—Herbert Wilson, Frederick Payne. Phillip Jeffs, Ernest 'Wilson and Leslie Heath—charged with the Darlington outrage in -March last, that of assaulting Mrs Mhddhek-' have been pia:ed on trial. Grout public interest is manifested in the case, large crowds frantically struggling to enter the Court. The accused, with the exception of Heath, are charged with the capita! offence of assaulting Mi's Mai docks, and Heath is indicted as an accessory after the tact.

All of the accused pleaded not guilty.