SHIPPING TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1928, Page 2

SHIPPING TROUBLE

government plan. (Australian Press Association.) ■MELBOURNE, June 8. Information from Canberra states that should the cooks continue to refuse to man tlie ships to Tasmania, the Federal Government proposes to issue a proclamation under the Crimes Act, which would enable it to take over vessels and maintain a service to Tasmania. It is understood that the owners are prepared to hand over all their vessels on tho coast to the Government.

T.U.C. POWERLESS. MELBOURNE, June 8.

An official statement lias been issued by the President of tlie Australasian Council of Trades Unions, in which reasons are given for declining intervention of the Council in the cooks’ dispute. He stated that, however lamentable and deplorable the fact was. the Council had no means of compelling tlie cooks to submit to the Council. Tlie obligation of finding ways and means of a settlement rested on the Arbitratorv Court.

OWNERS CALL FOR LABOUR A 'BIG CONFLICT FEARED. , (Received this day at 8 a.m.) MELBOURNE, June 9. A special meeting of the Commonwealth Steamship Owners’ Assn, decided to call for labour to man all idle ships oil Monday next, no distinction to be made between union and union labour, when the crews are eWkgaged. Tlie decision supersedes the owner’s intentions to man the ships on the Tasmanon Service without cooks. Volunteers will lie offered terms in accordance with existing conditions, and awards. Union officials admit there are several hundred sailors and firemen who are prepared to accept any work offering, and they fear that tiie distress caused bv their prolonged unemployment, will tempt 50 per cent, of the members of the maritime unions who ere idle to volunteer. Wntersiders meet to-morrow to decide. whether they will handle tlie cargo for vessels manned by non-union labour. A disastrous conflict, involving aUmnritime unions and transport group unions, is feared.

FEDERAL ACTION. INTENTION TO MAN SHII’S. ■Received this day at 8.50 a.m.) CANBERRA, June 9. To airqitifv the proclamation, Mr Bruce in a statement in the House of Representatives said the Government had been .reluctant to take" action to settle the cooks' strike as it appeared day by day that the parties would find a peaceful way out. The present position, however, could not lie allowed to continue. The Government must use the powers which Parliament entrusted to restore shipping'services at the- earliest moment. The proclamation would be gazetted to-day and any person interfering thereafter with the re-establishment of the coastal services would be arrested. Mr Bruce read a telegram, a copy of which had been sent to all Premiers. calling upon them to c-o-operato and afford protection to. volunteer seafarers and otherwise helping to restore shipping services. Another telegram had been sent- to tiie shipowners nil vising them of the ■Government's (intention of calling upon them to take -steps to man the idle vessels. The shipowners had replied complying. Scull in (leader of the Federal Opposition) regretted Mr Bruce's action and doubted whether ill possible Means had been exhausted to settle the strike. Scullin disapproved of the cooks attitude, in declining the authority of tie Trades Union Council to intervene on their behalf.

LABOUR PROTEST. SYDNEY, June 9. The Australian Labour Party, Sydney branch executive passed a resolution of strong protest against “calling into action armed forces of Commonwealt hand State for protection of scab labour.”

COOKS TO RESUME. BRISBANE, June 9. The cooks have advised Mr Tudelu.pe that they arc willing to resume on the old conditions. If no reply is received from M r Tudehnpe before Monday, they have decided to offer themselves for re-employment.