SYDNEY WATERSIDERS LIFT BAN

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 204, 26 May 1938, Page 11

SYDNEY WATERSIDERS LIFT BAN

Decision “Under Duress”

EXPORTS TO JAPAN AND GERMANY

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.

(Received May 25, 9.30 p.m.)

Sydney, May 25.

The waterside workers at a stopwork meeting to-day attended by 4000 decided "under duress” to lift their four months’ embargo on the loading of scrap iron, tin clippings and tallow for Japan and Germany. They thus escape the licensing provision of the Transport Workers Act threatened by the Commonwealth Government on May 17.

The watersiders’ decision was carried by an overwhelming majority. The meeting carried a long resolution expressing realisation of the disastrous effects of the licensing system on their fellow-unionists in other ports of Australia and the distress, poverty and loss of employment resulting to loyal members from it.

“We are resolved to meet the situation under duress sooner than allow our branch to be destroyed,” the resolution added.

The Prime Minister, Mr. J. A. Lyons, earlier issued a final appeal to the Sydney waterside workers to lift their ban. At a hastily-convened meeting of the Federal Cabinet last night it was decided to consider to-day the request by the Australian Council of Trades Unions that further time be allowed for adjustment of the dispute.

The watersiders were warned by the Federal Ministry that unless they agreed by May 25 to load all cargoes of scrap iron and other material for Japan which are offering the licensing provisions of the Transport Workers Act would be applied to the Sydney members of the Waterside Workers’ Federation and disciplinary action taken at other ports.

JAPANESE PROTEST

Ban On Iron Ore Exports (Received May 25, 11.15 p.m.) Canberra, May 25. The Japanese Consul-General, Mr. Wakamatsu, sent a strong protest to the Federal Government against the embargo on iron ore exports from Australia.