JOB CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 85, 9 January 1928, Page 9

JOB CONTROL

OWNERS’ STATEMENT ON SEAMEN’S DISPUTE

MILITANT TACTICS OF UNION OFFICIALS Br TEiiEGBAi’H.— press association. Copyright. Melbourne, January 7. The Commonwealth Steamship Owners’ Federation, in a statement regarding the seamen's dispute, says: “The difficulty which has been created in connection with the stop-work meeting is Only a part of the whole system of militant tactics which is being employed by certain officials of the Seamen’s Union aud other maritime unions with a reckless disregard of the consequences. “The question is not merely one of the seamen being absent without leave for a few hours, but it is one of certain officials of the union pursuing their destructive tac- - tics and ordering the rank and file to defy the masters of steamers and the owners, and to break the agreement and articles they signed, without any regard to the disastrous consequences to the men themselves, the public, and the industry. “It is quite obvious that such action is subversive of all discipline, and that no industry can be maintained while such conduct is tolerated. The shipowners are making, and have 'made, strong efforts to put a stop to this ‘job control.’ They feel that they can confidently look to the public and the Press to support them strongly in the stand they are making, not only in the interests of the industry, but of the community which it serves. It is to be regretted that on each occasion their action has been unsuccessful'owing to outside interference from sources to which they might reasonably look for the strongest support in any effort to uphold law and order.”

THREE MORE STEAMERS LAID UP (Rcc. January 8, 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, January 8. The latest development in connection with the waterside trouble is the idling of the Commonwealth Line steamer, Canberra and the inter-State liner Orraiston. When calls were made to fill vacancies in the crews no men responded, and the companies decided to lay up the vessels. The Commonwealth Line has also now decided to lay up the Moreton Bay.