WATERSIDE STRIKE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1928, Page 6

WATERSIDE STRIKE

SEAMEN EEEUSIN(?r :iWORK. (Australian Press " r ! (United’" Service).- \ . : >-4'. -i/.U i - O' ' 'MELBOURNE; September-26: At aUmeetihg ot seamen they reiterated their decision not to f man ships loaded or unloaded hy fi;ee .Ihoour, and the engineers’were compelled to keep steam on several' vessels. ; The owneha ate hdw£ ihdkmg plan's‘to ehrdl vblun- ••!••• '•> :•••>!*'••- UU’.'ud to !>t <•;.! • ' teer seamen. ; * SHIPOWNERS’ ÜBJ ECT. TO DETHRONE WORKERS’ U^ION. ' SYDNEY,; Sept. 26. ; A statement issued’by the Oversea Shippiiig 1 Oompanies’ Representatives’' Association, says: “The shipowners realise that if pubiic-spirifed vdlunteers had not answered 'tlieir appeal, a disastrous'hrike/onthe waterfront might liave’ continued indefinitely, plunging the .Oohiriibnwealth .into' chaos only comparable to an invivsion.” The statement' continues: “Is the control of oversea add interstate shipping' to be landed back to' a'Union lias; shown itself utterly helpless? If‘so, it is possible to count the weeks between peace find renewed warfare. To expect those in iso-called control of the waterside workers to honour any award or . ligreement is 'to : credit the-impos- ‘ We might as- well ask si professional ' incendiarist to turn ‘fireman. Volunteer labour Las' preyed to the' entire satisfaction of that Judge.Beeby spoke truly when he said of 'Waterside work that' it was ' hy no the „ hardest, work in . the community, and that the accepted policy of ■ the .Waterside .Workers’ Federation was to spiir dirt The statement concluded : ‘‘The results achieved by willing amateurs should be an eye-opener to the' general public.’”' > . r v W • PREFERENCE FOR N(JN- : ! V'-.y ./y. * MELBOURNE, Sept. 26. The State and Cental Committee of the 41 Oversea and Inter-state -Shipowners have, decided tb stand by the volunteers now working- their ships, althoagh- there is yet no definite promise 'that the volunteers are to be given a preference over' Unibhists under the provisions of the new Transport Bill.

WATERSIDERS ’' DECISION.’ ! - FOR GENERAL RESUMPTION ; / - .- t . SYDNEY. Sept; 26. AF>the. weekly' nieeting,--the , Watersi4^i^:Ee^^atipn.;dec.ided> to" work all vessels, arriving at' Sydney, whether loaded by volunteer la-our in other, ports or not; ’ ' ' ” . , • ' ADEL AIDE; -Sept. 26. - The watersklers ■ here have declared the stike off; and have decided to return to worn; under the Beeby Award. HOBART, ’Sept. 26. All the menibers-:of«the‘ Watersiders’ Federation are now 1 working under the Beeby Award. ■ BRISBANE, Sept. 26. A a meeting -f the. canegrowers ■ at M®lßav'decided to offer their services tor facilitate the loading and despatch of :>jJgar cane from Mackay. . Challenge of new a<ct. . ' . MELBOURNE. Sept. 26. , The Combined Maritime ; Waterside and Transport’ Unions' at a conference held in conjunction with the Australian'-: and ' New Zealand /Council of Trades Union's, agreed that the' challe*ge*’bf p the Bruce Government that the men must register for work in the maritime industry, be accepted. . The speakers admittedthat , the whole maritime organisation ’must 'now on this question, which was described as the conscription bf labour.. The Conference 7 also decided to test tld*Senstjtut?*hal*isni of the new act. Meanwhile, the conference agreed tha the watersiders be asked to resume at all ports under the Beeby Award, thus showing that they are abiding by the decision of tlieir own Federation, and . also enabling the whole Union movement to' 'fight the Federal Government on the - registration -ssue. ’ ‘

QUEEiNSLAND.'RAILWAYMEN. ':'BRISBANE,' Sept. 26.‘ * The railwayman' 'at “a. meeting last night, decided to remain outside the strike, i pending further instructions frhsy Australian Railways’ Union Sfl&te ‘'Executive, ' •

BRISBANE WHARFIES’ DECISION. ' BRISBANE,. Sept. 26. Tliere lias lieen" 'an amazing development in the waterside dispute. At a mass meeting 'today' 'of the watersiders (who yest'erclay at .a 'secret ballot decided ' to : return;to work) it’ was de'eided to reverse the previous decision, and to endeavour to ‘induce 'all the •ports, all'the Transport. Unions, and the Watersiders’ Conference on Friday next officially to declare a state-wide strike. _ ~V.f , ~ , , Yesterday’s ballot decision was rejected, on the ground that- sbme of the voting papers were destroyed. No .proposal was made for any further ballot. The miiitarJts had complete control of the meeting. '

GOVERNMENT ATTITUDE. The only hope of averting a general fight on the waterfront is negotiations that ar6 at present ' proceeding with the oversea shipowners and the Gpvern-

ment. These may result in the Governrhent, withdrawing the regulations that it proclaimed under the Transport Act.