EARLY SETTLEMENT

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 56, 15 September 1928, Page 9

EARLY SETTLEMENT

PROSPECTS BRIGHT ADVERSE PUBLIC OPINION MELBOURNE, 14th September. As a result of the, favourable reeept: jii of the proposals that the 'whole waterside dispute be placed in the hands of the Australian and New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, made at the watersiders' conference, *;he prospects of settlement are considerably brighter. The watersiders realise that, if the ownc. carry out their threat to engage non-union labour, the strike will not last long, unless it becomes general, and many other industries are involved, and if the dispute spreads from the waterfront the great bulk of public opinion will be against the In union circles it is regarded as certain that the strike will be placed in the hands of the council, which will order the watersiders to return to work under the new award as a prelude to the commence, tent of negotiations with the shipowners. If this is done, it means the watersiders abandoning the ■ position they have adopted and the casting of the onus of retreat upon the council. The latter commenced negotiations to-day, when it arranged to interview tho watersiders' leaders with the Pr er, Mr. Hogan. A conference of shipowners decided to write to the Waterside Workers' Federation giving it one more opportunity to order the men to return to work.