VOLUNTEER LABOUR

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 135, 9 June 1928, Page 9

VOLUNTEER LABOUR

PROTECTION TO BE GIVEN United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received 9th June, 9 a.m.) CANBERRA, This Day. The Federal Government has taken decisive action against the maritime cooks. A Proclamation is being issued under the Crimes Act, making it an offence punishable with one year's imprisonment to participate or encourage an offence in connection with this Act. The Prime Minister (Mr. S. M. Bruce), in a statement in the House of Representatives, said that the Government had been reluctant to take action to settle the cooks' strike, as it appeared from day to day that the parties would have found a peaceful way out. The present position could not be allowed to continue. The Government must now use the powers which Parliament had entrusted to it to restore the shipping services at the earliest moment. A Proclamation would be gazetted to-day, and any person interfering thereafter with the re-establishment of the coastal services would be arrested. Mr. Bruce read a telegram, a copy of which had been sent to all Premiers, calling upon them to co-operate and afford protection to volunteer seafarers, and otherwise helping to restore the shipping services. Another telegram has been sent to the shipowners advising them of the Government's intention, and calling upon them to take steps to man the idle vessels. The shipowners have replied, stating that they are complying. Mr. Scullin, the Leader of the Federal Opposition, said that he regretled Mr. Bruce's action, and doubted whether, all possible means had been exhausted to settle the strike. Mr. Scullin disapproved of the cooks' attitude in declining the authority of llie Trades Union Council to intervene on their behalf.