WATERSIDE STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1271, 28 October 1911, Page 5

WATERSIDE STRIKE.

PERMANENT HANDS OUT. MINISTER AS STEYEDORE. NOViL OFFER TO SHIPOWNERS. Ds TcleiffMli—Press Associatlcm—Oopyrlfiht (Roc, October 27, 9.10 p.m.) Sydnoy, October 27. A serious development in connection with the striko is that a number of tho Constant bands employed on tho wharves have declined to continue work, although they are not members of tho Wharf Labourers' Union. The men working tho oro cargoes lavo also stopped work. The union officials and tho roprcsentatives of tho companies state that they have no idea why this step has been taken. Tho men themselves say they havo no particular reason for the action, but sympathy with the strikers has played a big part. A remarkable fcataro is tho apathy witli which the strikers regard tho clerks and others doing their work. There has been no sign of a demonstration. MR. CARMICHAEL'S OFFER, PRACTICAL INTERVENTION. (Rcc. October 28, 0.20 a.m.) Sydney, October 27. Mr. Carmichael, Minister for Labour, has made an offer to tho Inter-State and coastal steam ship owners to accept an intermediate position as a stevedore, paying tho men rates, as demanded on the basis of a contract drawn up ou tho principle of tho deep-sea contract. Mr. Oarmicliael undertook to refund to tho ship owners any profits that might accrue from tho experiment, whioh would continue until the parties went to arbitration. Both tho inter-State and coastal ship owners declined tho offer, which is still open. WHARVES DESERTED. MOERAKI'S CARGO STILL ABOARD. Sydney, October 27. The effects of tho striko aro gradually widening and_ becoming more serious. Tho interstate and coastal companies' wharves hare at present a deserted appearance. Several of tho companies' gates and premises are wholly or partially closed. Tho striko is being conducted quietly on both sides. Tho companies stato that it is their intention to keep their cslsting staffs of wharf hands employed, but they will engago no outside labour. Tho Paloona finished loading and sailed for Newcastle. She was to havo departed for Jlobart on Wednejday last, but is not expected to get away from Newcastle Wore Monday next.

Tho Moeraki, after visiting Newcastle for coal, returned to Sydney, with tho vrholo of her cargo still aboard excepting tho horses. A quantity of perishable (roods was unloaded on arrival, and the balance of the cargo is being unloaded by her own crew, assisted by the officers and crew of tho Wakatipu. It is doubtful if the vessel will bo able to leave for Now Zealand to-morrow. No cargo is being taken in.

Sussex Street merchants and salesmen are unloading tho Kakapo's cargo of Tasmanian potatoes. Other companies aro doing their best with the available hands to handle perishable cargoes. Thero is a probability of a number of vessels being laid up unless thero is a speedy ccttlemont. Mr. Hughes, Federal Attorney-General and president of tho Waterside Workers' Federation, and the president and secretary of tho Wharf Labourers' Union will arrivo from Mclbourno to-day. NO SUPPORT FROM HOBART. Hobart, October 27. The. wharf labourers, nt a meeting,' decided that the Sydney men had broken their agreement, and therefore doclino to support them. THE VICTORIA'S CARGO. (By TelcrraDh.-Presß Association.) Auckland, October 27. Inquiry made by tho waterside workers as to whether the steamer Victoria had any cargo loaded by non-unionists at Sydnoy, has elicited a reply by enblo that the only cargo is two tons of periodicals, which tho steamer's crew was ablo to handle. POSITION IN WELLINGTON. Inquiries were made locally from Mr. T. Smith,-secretary of tho Wellington Watcrsido Workers Union, as to whether wharf workers iu New Zealand proposed to do anything about tho strike in Sydney. He replied that the federation had no official knowledge that u strike hud occurred, and that no action was contemplated. 110 pointed out, also, that vessels were coming from Sydney without cargo, and were not taking cargo from Now Zealand for Sydney, so that tho question of whether the ships should bo loaded or unloaded hero did not crop up.