AUSTRALIA’S LABOUR TROUBLES

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 262, 1 August 1929, Page 9

AUSTRALIA’S LABOUR TROUBLES

FEUD BETWEEN RIVAL SEAMEN’S UNIONS THREATENED UPHEAVAL IN SHIPPING BUSINESS MEMBERS OF TWO BODIES NOT TO SAIL TOGETHER Another upheaval in the /Australian shipping industry is threatened owing to one union deciding that its members must not sail with members of a rival organisation. (United Press Association.— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Melbourne, July 31. Another upheaval in the shipping industry is threatened owing 40 the feud between the two rival seamen’s organisations. The Victorian branch of the Seamen’s Union decided that members should refuse to sail with members of the Australian Seamen’s Union. The secretary, Mr. O’Neill, stated that those men who subscribed their names to the rival association for registration would lose employment, and, if the owners Insisted upon employing them, the vessels would be held up. The decision is effective immediately. SHIPOWNERS NOT WORRYING RIGHT OF FREE SELECTION OF CREWS (Rec. July 31, 9 p.m.) Melbourne, July 31. The threatened strike of seamen is not worrying the ship-owners, who declare that they intend to continue co exercise the right of free selection of crews. Mr. O’Neill claims that the owners had agreed with his organisation to give preference to its members. TIMBER STRIKE WORKER COMPLAINS ‘OF TERRORISM UNION DOMINATED BY COMMUNISTS Sydney, July 31. The “Herald” publishes a statement by a timber worker, whose name is withheld, in which he declares that the majority of stflkers ara on strike against their will; that the union meetings are dominated by a Communist coterie whose aim is the destruction of legitimate unionism and the creation of misery. He said that no courage was needed to go on strike; the real test was the preparedness of the man to act according to his convictions, and refuse to be terrorised by the Trades Hall conspirators, who receive their orders from a foreign country. VOLUNTEERS ATTACKED Sydney, July 31. Following an attack by members of the “Basher Gang” at Ultimo, two volunteer timber workers drew revolvers, fired three shots, and held their assail ants off until the arrival of the police, upon whose approach the strikers ran away. THE COAL DISPUTE LOSS TO MINERS Newcastle, July 31. The coalminers here have been idle 121 days. It is. estimated that the miners have each lost £254 by not accepting the proprietors’ offer of a shilling reduction. The average output of pick hands is about seven tons of coal daily, for which they were originally paid 6s. lid. a ton. The owners’ offer would have enabled each man to make at this rate £2 2s. Id. a day. INDICATIONS OF EARLY SETTLEMENT (Rec. July 31, 9 p.m.) Sydney, July 31. Indications point to an early settlement of the coal strike as a result of the expressed desire of the miners’ representatives for a compromise and the pressure of business people for the reopening of the mines in order to avoid bankruptcy. The Coal Commission to-day issued a statement defining the basis of profits and the procedure it intended to adopt in arriving at a decision in this regard. The miners’ representatives, however, declare that there is no guarantee that the commission’s findings will be binding on either side. They are not anxious to await its ultimate conclusions. Therefore overtures will be made during the week-end to the mine-owners for a resumption of negotiations for a settlement. It is expected that the recommendation to accept the owners’ bedrock terms will be approved by a full meeting of representatives of the engine-drivers and mine employees on Friday night