A SHORT-LIVED STRIKE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 460, 15 September 1928, Page 1

A SHORT-LIVED STRIKE

Labour Officials’ Prediction WEEK-END COLLAPSE POSSIBLE WATERSIDERS HAVE NO FUNDS (United P.A—Bp Telegraph — Copyright) Received 10.30 a.m. SYDNEY, To-da> OFFICIALS of the Australian Labour Party are of the opinion that the waterside strike will be short-lived, as the watersiders have no funds.

rpuE attitude of the other maritime unions toward the watersiders is more or less frigid, and it would not come as a surprise to their fellow - unionists if the waterside workers during the week-end instructed their Federal officials, now sitting in Melbourne, to capitulate on the owners’ terms.

Following the application by the shipowners, the Chief Judge of the Federal Court of Arbitration, Mr. Justtice Beeby, who is ill in bed, at a court convened at his bedside, ruled that a strike exists in the shipping industry. The owners in Sydney are now preparing to engage volunteer labour. Many applications have already been received. BRIGHTER PROSPECTS An earlier Melbourne message said that as a result of the favourable reception of a proposal that the whole waterside dispute be placed in the hands of the Australian and New Zealand Council of Trades Unions, which was made at a conference of the waterside workers, prospects of a settlement are considerably brighter. The waterside workers realise that if the owners carry out their threat to engage non-union labour, the strike will not last long, unless it became general and many other industries arc

involved. If file dispute spreads Iron* the waterfront, tbe great bulk of pub* lie opinion will be against the strikers, IN COUNCIL’S HANDS In union circles it is regarded as certain that the strike will be placed in the hands of the council, which will order the waterside workers to return to work under the new award, as a. prelude to the commencement of negotiations with the shipowners. If this is done, it means that the men will abandon the position they have adopted, and will cast the onus of retreat upon the council. The council commenced negotiation** yesterday, when it arranged an interview between the workers' leaders and the Premier, Mr. E. J. Hogan. A conference of the shipowners decided to -write to the Waterside Workers* Federation, giving it one more opportunity to order the men to return to work. FREE LABOUR EMPLOYED At Adelaide a start was made in un» loading the cargo of the Milora wiry free labour. The work proceeded quietly. The Wool brokers’ Association. afteO considering the delays caused to the wool shipments by tbe strike, decided to postpone the sales arranged for nes* Friday unless there are prospects id an early settlement.