COOKS' STRIKE

Hokitika Guardian, 19 May 1928, Page 3

COOKS' STRIKE

.*» (Australian Press Association.) MELBOURNE, May 18. The Australian Council of Trades Unions telephoned the Shipowners’ Association asking if the latter would grant a conference to discuss the cooks’ dispute. The Council were informed by the shipowners that nothing could be done in the matter until the Chairman of the Association, who is in Sydney, returned, when the request would be " placed before him. Individual shipowners, howevei, , point out that even if a conference V 7Vwere granted it could be taken "as no great guarantee that peace was in sight, as the owners’ recent telegram to" Mr Tudehope (Cooks’ Secretary) had made it quite clear that there could lie no settlement unless the men made a sincere move to man the ship.-, and agree to abolish the roster system. If Mr Jacob Johnson’s following refuse to accept mediation by the Australasian Council of Trades Unions, they will be disciplined by the wliolo Labour Movement.

ATTITUDE OF OWNERS. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.l SYDNEY, May 1!). Howard Smith’s collier, Eva, will ho tied up to-day and the crew of 38 idled, due to the cook’s strike. J. Tudehope (General Secretary of the' Cooks’ Union) returns to Sydney to-day and will attend a mooting of his Union to report on the latest deve.opinents in Melbourne. E Crofts (Chairman of the Australasian Council of Trades Unions) had an informal interview with Appleton Chairman of the Ship Owners’ Federation) upon the latter’s return from Sydney, seeking to re-open negotiations for a settlement. Appleton replied that the fact in tlie Unions had come to some sort of an agreement among themselves seemed bv them to be regarded as a sett.cnient of the strike, hut the owners had not been consulted. He reminded Crofts that Huddarts already lost one hundred thousand, which is irrecoverable, whatever settlement is reached. The terms whereon the owners are prepared to settle have already been set Tortli, and would he insisted upon. The owners demanded the abolition of the Roster system and declined to give a guarantee of employment to members of- Cooks’ Union, under conditions of |ithe suspended award. If Crofts would Pnrake a formal request for a conference the ship owners he would place the application before them on Monday. Beyond that lie would say nothing.

MEETING OF COOKS. (Received this day at 10.15 a.mA MELBOURNE, May 19. Mr Tudehope, before leaving for Sydney, addressed a mass meeting of cooks, tracing the history of the dispute. Subsequently he said lie still insisted on an extra man for the Ulimaroa’s galley. The meeting unanimously passed a resolution of confi- , donee in Mr Tudehope. yTZ ' -r