SERIOUS DEADLOCK.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 63, 14 March 1908, Page 5

SERIOUS DEADLOCK.

• SYDNEY WHARVES PARTIALLY DESERTED. DEVELOPMENTS. #• coal lumpers knock off - work. By Telegraph.— Preas Aiaooiatlon.— Copyriaiht. SYDNEY, 13th March. The strike position has undergone, little change, and the evidence of a serious deadlock is more pronounced than it was yesterday. / The principal wharves were to a large extent deserted,"" and practically all trade — excepting the fruit industry — ia foeling the pinch. , The three coastal companies — the North Coast Steam Navigation, Newcastle and Hunter River, and Illawarra — remain unaffected. A tacit understanding exists among the casual free labourers to abide ' by the Arbitration Court award, under the terms of which the coastal companies are working. As the men clear ono vessel, they go to the wharves of other coastal companies and assist them. % lnter-Stato lines are employing cho crews of vessels, delivery clerks, and other permanent hands to ' unship perishable consignments. Tho unionists take no objection to this procedure. v Little attempt has so far been made to "shift any ordinary cargo. The crew of tho Huddart-Parker steamer Westralia assisted to unload 9000 boxes of fruit requiring immediate handling. The strike pickets induced a few of the permanent hands to leave work, and the crew are now discharging the fruit, the consignees handling it themselves after it reaches the wharf. There are indications of possible developments in connection with the coaling of the ' White Star liner Suevic. The coal-lumpers knocked oil work, and refused to return until a number of nonunionists were discharged. The Miowera's departure for Brisbane and Vanconvor has been postponed from Saturday till 4 o'clock on Monday afternoon. The steamer Yongala, -from Brisbane, resumed her voyage to Melbourne without discharging the Sydney portion of her cargc\ ' The Japanese mail steamer Kumano 'Maru is in a similar predicament, and leaves undischarged for Melbourne tomorrow. Arrivals to-day added several vessels to the long list of those tied up. { A CONFERENCE. ELABOEATE PEECAUTIONS TO MAINTAIN SECEECY. OUTLOOK SERIOUS. SYDNEY, 13th March. The Strike Committee was in conference throughout the day, and the Steamship Owners' Association also held a meeting. Both sides took elaborate precautions to prevent any leakage of information. The secretary of the Wharf Labourers' Union foreshadowed important developments to-day, but up to a late hour these had not taken place, though certain negotiations are known to be in progress, which a report to-night states promise to open the way for settlement. Failing an early settlement, the outlook is decidedly serious. PREMIER APPROACHED. PEESIDENT OF WATERSIDE WORKERS HOPEFUL. PERISHABLE PRODUCTS. A MEETING OF MERCHANTS. SUMMONSES TO BE ISSUED. (Received March 14, 10.45 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The Premier has been unofficially approached with a view to mediation in regard to the strike, but in unable uo give an answer until the matter has been brought formally before him. Mr. Hughes, president of the Waterside Workers' Federation, informed an interviewer that certain influences were at work which may result in the ending of the trouble. He did not care to say more than that at present. He was hopeful the thing would soon be all right, Mr. Hughes further stated that a cable had been sent to the International Transport Workers' Federation headquarters at Hamburg, with a view io that organisation giving assistance in dealing with vessels arriving at Euro* pean ports, if necessary. " A meeting of the Wholesale Prodiico Merchants' Association resolved to appeal to the Premier to assist in securing the landing of perishable products, large .quantities of which will otherwise be ruined. One rumour afloat is i-hat if tho men do not quickly return, to worlc the shipping companies intend to tie up their boats and pay off all hands. The Stevedores' Association resolved to issue summonses against tho men for; breach of contract. In most cases the crews of vessels are assisting to handle cargo, but on somo of the German-Australian lino of stoamers they declined to do so. Tho position at Newcastle is' unaltered. Ver-y little is doing on tho wharves. In Brisbane fruit and other cargo for Sydney is being refused. , LABOUR PARTY'S OBJECTIONS. (Received March 14, 10 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The Labour Party objects to tho Industrial Dispute Bill on several grounds and hopes to modify, it considerably.