Amateur Wharfies

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 463, 19 September 1928, Page 9

Amateur Wharfies

merchants and clerks Perishable Cargo Worked DEADLOCK NOT YET ENDED (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) n« a BRISBANE, To-day. jyl ■ K LRANTS and clerks unloaded perishable cargoes from several vessels yesterday. They will continue to unload tnese cargoes while the watersiders’ strike lasts. A.t Adelaide a meeting of prominent business men formed an Essential Services and Maintenance Volunteers’ League, tor the purpose of carrying on essential services in times of industrial unrest. A thousand members have been enrolled, and a volunteer labour depot will be opened to-day.

All the wharves at Port Adelaide are idle. From Newcastle, two steamers sailed last night with their cargoes undischarged, owing to the strike. A Sydney message says it is expected that the recalcitrance on the part of the waterside workers at some of the ports will defeat the efforts of the federation to secure a patched-up peace until after the Federal elections. Even in the Sydney branch, which is regarded as the most reasonable, some friction may develop about certain conditions in the new award. At present work is proceeding on the Sydney wharves. Gangs were secured without difficulty for the Marama and the Maheno on their arrival from New Zealand yesterday morning. However, several steamers are idle owing to the waterside workers at the ports to which they are bound not having resumed work.

The men at Melbourne were informed by the shipowners that there will be no conference about the new award until work has been resumed at all the ports under the terms of that award. The Premier of Victoria, Mr. E. J. Hogan, has urged the unions to resume work as a preliminary to a conference. No night work was done at Melbourne by the wharf labourers on overseas or inter-State ships, but some cargo was handled yesterday morning by gangs already engaged. The afternoon call, however, failed to elicit any response. A message from Canberra says the Federal Attorney-General, Mr. J. G. Latham, has ordered the issue of summonses against the officials of the Waterside Workers’ Federation for inciting the members to strike. Mr. Latham would not inform questioners whether any other legal action is contemplated.