WATERFRONT STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 302, 21 September 1928, Page 11

WATERFRONT STRIKE

HOPES OF SETTLEMENT ABANDONED WORKERS’ FEDERATION DECIDES TO FIGHT ' RESUMPTION ORDER JETTISONED Hopes of a settlement of the waterfront dispute have been abandoned, the Workers’ Federation deciding to tight the introduction of free labour. (United Press Association.— By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Rec. September 20, 11.10 p.m.) Sydney, September 20. Hopes of the negotiations for a aetlement of the waterside dispute proving successful were abandoned at Melbourne this afternoon, the federation deciding that it had no alternative but to accept the shipowners’ challenge, and light the introduction of free labour on the waterfront. The waterside conference’s decision instructing members to offer at all ports under the Beeby award is thus jettisoned. Over one hundred volunteers signed on at Port Adelaide this afternoon. VOLUNTEER LABOUR AT NEWCASTLE CALL TO BE MADE AT MELBOURNE TO-DAY PORT OF SYDNEY BADLY DISLOCATED (Rec. September 20, 9.15 p.m.) Sydney, September 20. Volunteer labour started to-day, loading wool on the Matatua at Newcastle. Members of the Waterside Workers’ Federation continued work at Sydney to-day on vessels requiring labour, but this port is badly dislocated through the hold-up at other places. Work today was principally confined to the Aorangi, Maheno, and Marama. The steamer Katoomba was paid off to-day. A hundred and fifty men are affected. The brokers will decide to-morrow ■whether the wool sales will resume on Monday. It is estimated that the stoppage of the sales this week has resulted in three millions sterling being held up. Stickers and dodgers- urging men not to volunteer are being posted all over Newcastle by unionists. At Brisbane the watersiders in a mass meeting reaffirmed their decision not to work under the Beeby Award. At Melbourne a special meeting of the Australian Council of Trades Unions is being held to consider the latest developments in the waterside strike. Fremantle, September 20. The mail liner Orsova, approaching Fremantle, greatly reduced her speed in the hope that the waterside hold-up might be avoided. The liner Cathay last week was compelled to resume her voyage without unloading. LINER DECLARED “BLACK” (Rec. September 20. 9.15 p.m.) Melbourne, September 20. The watersiders did not respond to the call for labour for the Peninsular liner Cathay, which has been declared “black” because she carried cargo handled by free labour at Adelaide. No call was made for free labour, the owners having decided to make to-morrow the first day for that. Other .ships in port were worked. PROTECTION OF FREE LABOUR LABOUR MEMBERS DELAY BILL (Rec. September 20, 11.10 p.m.) Canberra, September 20. The Labourites refused leave to Mr. Bruce to move the second reading of a Bill to protect free labour on the ■waterfronts and to secure continuity of employment for such labour after the strike. The measure was therefore delayed till to-morrow. ’“MONSTROUS ATTACK ON CIVIL RIGHTS” LONDON PAPER’S COMMENT London, September 19. The “Daily Telegraph," in an editorial on the dock strike developments, hopes that the threat to declare “black” all goods handled by volunteers will not eventuate, as it would be the "final act in insane nation-wrecking. The writer adds: “The waterside unions’ action iny any case has become a crucial test of the power and will of the community to protect itself against a monstrous attack on its civil rights and constitutional authority.”