WATERSIDE TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 12 September 1928, Page 1

WATERSIDE TROUBLE

(Australian Press Association.) SYDNEY, Sept. 11. Although many ports throughout tile Commonwealtli were idle to-day, hundreds of wntersiders offered for work at Sydney and plenty of labour was available for all vessels, no distinction being made for the steamers Baradine and Goulbiirn, which the men refused to work at the afternoon pickup yesterday. By offering in great numbers the men showed an objection, not to the ships or to the lino to which they belonged but to tbo whole principle of the afternoon pick-up. An official statement issued by the oversea shipping representatives says: Tlie oversea and inter-Stnte shipping companies face two challenges and accept both. One is a defiant tearing up of the now Wntersiders’ Award by tl|e Watersiflers Federation, which wo answer by taking a definite qntl final stand by tbe award, refusing to (barter law and torilor for peace'and persistent chaos. The second challenge is the question asked by Judge Bechy in his recent judgment: Will the shipping companies continue their policy of submission or take a firm stand ? We answer that challenge as cmphatiall.v as the first. Tlie clay of continual enforced concession and piecemeal compromise is ended. We stand as a united body for arbitration as against anarchy, whether that anarchy be a repudution of the whole award, or i(s tearing up clause by clause.” Reports from Brisbane, Hobart, Adelaide, Perth and Fremantle, state in. work was done on the waterfront today. The men refused employment at the morning pick-up. Tbo Cormnrin, which arrived at Fremantle from London, hail to continue her voyage without discharging her cargo.

At Melbourne, although men were picked up to work many vessels at tbs morning pick-up, they loft the vbanes when told they were engaged under the now award. With the exception of the coal anil Tasmanian services, and toe Patrick Line steamers, inter-State shipping is at a standstill, and by to-night one thousand workers in Melbourne wore idled. The shipowners are preparing to nay off crows and to refund passenger money. The overseas and inter-Stnte shippng companies have refused a further request hv the watersiders for a conferen:c. stating a necessary preliminary for a conference would bo tlie observance of the new award.