UNIONS CONFER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 297, 1 October 1928, Page 5

UNIONS CONFER

• \ A MOMENTOUS MEETING.

NATIONAL UPHEAVAL FEARED. TRANSPORT ACT DISLIKED. (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The Transport Workers Act operates at Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Fremantle to-day, and at Newcastle to-morrow. Licensing is already proceeding at most ports. A conference of unions is being held to-day at Melbourne, when the strike policy will be defined. It is expected to be the most momentous conference in the union’s history, and possibly may precipitate a strike of nation-wide dimensions, involving railways, tramways, all transport facilities, and food operatives. All unions will be called upon to give effect to whatever decision is arrived at. Approximately 20 of the most powerful unions in Australia will be drawn into the conflict, which will be virtually a fight against the licensing of unionists and the introduction of free labour .

The conference begins at the Trades Hall, Melbourne, at 2.30. —Australian Press Association. CARTERS AND DRIVERS IDLE. 1 HANDLING OF WOOL CEASES. (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) ADELAIDE, This Day. The Mayor of Port Adelaide hopes to-dav to suggest a way out of the trouble on the waterside. No additional volunteer labour will be engaged until the unionists have had another chance to accept the owners’ ojffer. \ Carters and drivers are all idle, as since the volunteers were chased from the wharves the handling of wool has ceased.r Australian Press Association.

ARMED GUARDS AT ADELAIDE.

FORCE OF 2000 MEN EXPECTED. (United Press Association—Copyright.) SYDNEY, September §O. The organisation of the Citizens’ Defence Brigade at Adelaide is proceeding smoothly, and it is estimated that 2000 men, armed with rifles and bayonets, will be ready next week to cope with any further disturbances on the waterfront. Over 1000 have already enrolled. No ammunition has been issued, however, and the bolts of the rifles'have been removed. Adelaide is in a state of excitement. Motor-car loads of armed volunteers are parading in the vicinity of the waterfront. The Premier has* announced that no additional volunteer labour will be engaged on Monday until the strikers have .had an opportunity of registering under the Transport Act.

The Commonwealth and State Governments have given an undertaking that volunteer labourers will not be victimised.

As a result of the strike, Holden’s motor body-building works are closing on Monday, throwing 1500 men out of work.

Expressing horror at the bomb outrages at Melbourne, the Premier of Victoria (Mr Hogan) said that ample police protection had been arranged at Melbourne to maintain peace. A conference of the union, discussing the strike, emphatically denounced the ■outrage, members stating that the men on strike were not associated with rthe dastardly act. At Brisbane, the police raided Communist rooms at the Trades Hall, but seized no documents. The Seamen’s Union lias decided to support the watersiders in whatever action they take.

A special meeting of the Cabinet will be held at Canberra on Monday to discuss the strike position.—Australian Press Association.

MR WALSH WARNS UNIONISTS.

LONDON, September 29. The “Morning Post” states that Mr Tom Walsh warns trads unionists in Australia that they are being used as tools in doing an injury to their country and the Empire. “Whatever may be the instigation of the present violence, it is clear that- an attempt is being made to terrorise the free people of Australia into submission—an. ugly form of tyranny,” he states. “The Commonwealth has suffered often and long from such attempts. 'lt seems that the time lias come to make a stand. The terrorists may find they are up against not only the Government, hut also the public.”—Australian Press Association.