DAY OF CRISIS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 215, 30 November 1927, Page 11

DAY OF CRISIS

Watersiders Strike HEAVY BLOW TO ALL INDUSTRY FEARED A PRESS Association cablegram from Melbourne says it is unofficially stated that the management of the Committee of the Watersiders’ Federation decided that the overtime strike be postponed till after Christmas. Other messages say there is fear of a grave deadlock. The Commonwealth Line, by an agreement with the men, has virtually repudiated the shipowners’ ultimatum. If the trouble continues, 12,000 Newcastle miners will soon be thrown out of work. By Cable. —Press Association. — Copyright.

Reed. 10.10 a.m. SYDNEY, To-day. A STATEMENT issued by the Shipowners’ Association says at eight o’clock to-day employment will be offered to the watersiders, the terms of engagement being those defined by the Arbitration Court award, and the agreements previously accepted by the union. Acceptance of the provisions of the award will not impose any hardship on any worker, and will not reduce the high rate of wages paid under the award. Moreover the shipowners will not cancel or withdraw the concessions and agreements mutually made, although these are additional to, and not recognised by, the award. The only change will be the elimination of arbitrary illegal rules and restrictions which the court refused to grant, or -which were enforced without reference to the court. Although Inter-State shipping is greatly delayed, it is not anticipated that the dispute will affect the departures of the Maunganui, Marama or Makura. It is stated that if the shipping at Newcastle is brought to a standstill for more than a few days, the majority of the northern coal mines will be compelled to close, making idle more than 12,000 miners. Earlier messages said that in anticipation of the possible failure of negotiations in the waterside strike tomorrow, shipping agents were yesterday making strenuous efforts to get their vessels away. A number of overseas steamers were hurrying with their loading so as to prevent them being tied up. The Sydney branch of the Seamen’s Union discussed the position yesterday, but members failed to reach any decision as to their attitude toward the dispute.

DEADLOCK FEARED COMMONWEALTH LINERS ULTIMATUM REPUDIATED Received 10.10 a.m. MELBOURNE, To-day. There is every possibility of the overtime strike developing into a serious deadlock in the absence of outside intervention. The Emergency Committee appointed by the Australian Council of Trades Unions has been advised to watch events, but further intervention by that body is unlikely, although, should the ships be tied up as threatened by the shipowners, widespread unemployment would result among the members of many other unions which are linked with the council. It will then be essential for an outside organisation to step in, despite the assurances given by the Watersiders* Federation that it is capable of conducting its own disputes without outside interference. Officials of the Commonwealth Line steamers announced that an agreement had been reached with the Watersiders’ Federation, by which employment would be offered to the men under conditions which obtained immediateiy prior to the overtime strike. The Federation will provide labour for the Commonwealth liners, and if necessary will permit overtime to be worked. This announcement came as a bombshell to the owners, particularly as the Commonwealth Line, being a member of the Oversea Shipping Representatives’ Association, was a party to the ultimatum served by the owners on the watersiders. The present agreement amotints to a repudiation of that ultimatum. The negotiations were kept a close secret until the agreement was reached. It was stated in an earlier message that the Melbourne wharf labourers and stevedores would offer for work as usual, this morning, but only on the conditions now prevailing. They would give no guarantees. This is in accordance with the instructions of the Waterside Workers’ Federation. SEAMEN’S ATTITUDE

The Union Company's steamer Kiwitea was placed on the “black” list when it arrived at Newcastle with a load of zinc from Hobart. The wharf labourers refused to unload the cargo because it was loaded by the zinc company’s own employees. The vessel will be brought lo Sydney, where the crew- will be paid off. —A. and N.Z.

A meeting of the Melbourne branch of the Seamen’s Union adopted a resolution declaring that the seamen did not want to strike, but if the shipowners forced a dispute they would demand that a common policy between the seamen and the watersiders be adopted, and that all ships throughout Australia, overseas and interstate, be declared “black.” It was also resolved that until such times as the tactics to be employed to assist the watersiders in their fight for better conditions are decided upon, the members of the Seamen’s Union will perform their usual shipboard duties.

A meeting of shipowners drew up a list of rules which has been disregarded by the waterside workers, and upon which the owners will now insist. If the men agree to the conditions and afterwards infringe any award conditions, the owners will stop all work on any particular ship, or group of ships, and tie them up.—A. and N.Z.

“SPECIES OF TERRORISM” WATERSIDERS ATTACKED REFERENCE IN SENATE Reed. 10.25 a.m. CANBERRA, To-day. In the Senate, Sir George Pearce stated that the Government had no intention of bringing pressure to bear on the Arbitration Court to interfere in the overtime strike dispute. The Watersiders were endeavouring, by a species of terrorism, to make ; the Arbitration Court bow to their die- ; tation. There was a duty on the watersiders to obey the conditions laid down by the court. The Government ; would go to any length to preserve law and order, and see that industry was carried on. He added that there was an obligation on the Labour Party to tell the men they were in the wrong. A motion for an adjournment was allowed to lapse. Replying to a request by a deputation of Tasmanian members of the Senate, and the House of Representatives, that Government action be taken immediately to relieve the position in Tasmania caused by the overtime strike, the Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Bruce, said the Ministry was closely watching the dispute. It was hoped that within a few days it would be possible to decide what action the Commonwealth could usefully take to end it. The motion for an adjournment was moved by Mr. J. E. Ogden, a Labour member for Tasmania. In condemning the attitude of the men, he said the union should be forced to comply with the awards. The Federal Government should exercise every power it possessed to meet force with force and make the men obey the law. He asked whether a few men were to be allowed to bring industrial depression and hardship upon the community. If he had the power he would, he said, deregister them, and remove them from the proI tection of ther court. —A. and N.Z,