SUMMONSES ISSUED IN VICTORIA

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25660, 24 November 1948, Page 5

SUMMONSES ISSUED IN VICTORIA

Executive Members Of 1 ransport Unions

(Rec. 9 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Nev. 23. Summonses against 12 members of the executives of the Australian Railways Union and the Tramway Employees’ Association, who are accused of taking part in an illegal« strike on November 17, were served this afternoon. The general belief is that no immediate transport stoppage will occur. The Premier of Victoria (Mr T. T. Heilway) said that whether or not the Government would deciare a state of emergency would depend on whether the unions acted to disrupt essential services. • In Sydney the general secretary of the Seamen’s Union (Mr E. V. Elliott) said that a sea blockade of Victoria would operate immediately the summonses were served. Mr W. Bird, secretary of the Victorian Seamen’s Union, said early today that colliers bringing coal to Victoria from Newcastle would be the first ships immobilised. Late information suggests that the watersiders and other unions will abide by any decision of the Trades Hall Council, which opposes the Essential Services Act. but has declared itself against precipitate action. The cases will be heard in the Court of Petty Sessions within a week. Mr Hollway added that it was not definite that no action would be taken against the union secretaries, Mr J. J. Brown and Mr C. L. O’Shea. Efforts were still being made to obtain evidence against them, and if this was done prosecutions would follow’. The prosecutions against the others were intended as test cases to ascertain any weaknesses in the Essential Services Act.

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

Mr Hollway said that the progress of the State could not be interrupted at the behest of men who could only be regarded as Russian fifth columnists and who had no other ambition than to bring about chaos so that Australia would fall an easy prey to Russia. Penalties Under Act The Cabinet’s decision to prosecute was unanimous. The Essential Services Act, under which the complaints are laid, provides only for fines, but it is suggested that the Government may introduce amending legislation providing for gaol sentences if the fines are not paid. The Government will not proclaim a state of emergency unless there is a widespread stoppage lasting more than 24 hours. If it does this under the act it can order labour to operate any strike-bound essential services.

Political correspondents have predicted that militant union reaction to the decision will be almost immediate. The railwaymen and the tramway employees are meeting to-day to decide whether or not they will walk off their jobs at once. It is understood that when the union executives voted on last Wednesday’s stoppage the voting, on /the tramways executive was 27 to 1, and on the railwaymen’s council 11 to 3.

The ironworkers are meeting today., Mr T. D. Scott, secretary of the Enginedrivers and Firemen’s Association, has threatened the withdrawal of key men from the power plants. The Trades Hall Council has denied all connexion with a publication called “Trade Union News, which is being distributed free in the city, particularly to workers travelling to and from their employment. Mr J. V. Stout, secretary of the council, commented that he had no doubt the publication was Communist inspired. The Federal attitude to developments in Victoria is indicated by a statement in Canberra by the Federal Minister of Labour and National Service (Mr E. J. Holloway), who said he hoped l the Victorian Government would not precipitate industrial trouble. He had not been approached by any party in the dispute caused by the Victorian essential services legislation.