REAL TROUBLES

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 6, 8 January 1930, Page 9

REAL TROUBLES

INDUSTRIAL UNREST

FEDERAL MINISTRY "ANXIOUS

(Eeceived Bth January, 11 a.m.) 3J SYDNEY, This Day. '

The "Sydney Morning Herald" says that the Federal Minister is gravely concerned with the growing unrest on the waterfront caused by the demand of the watersiders for the immediate removal of non-unionists from every; wharf throughout the Commonwealth. It is revealed that the Assistant-Min-ister of Industry, Mr. Beasley, recently; held a number of secret conferences with the waterside workers in Melbourne. Fears are entertained in Federal circles that a crisis in the maritime industry is threatened, and Cabinet will give special attention to the position at its meeting nest week.

The Central Council of the Miners' Federation has definitely endorsed a recommendation from the Northern miners that all safety men be withdrawn from the mines closed by* the associated coalowners. Officials'of the Engine Drivers' Union, however, received definite instructions that the safety men must remain at work. Three South Coast mines, Corrimal, Scarborough, and Coalcliff, decided in favour of an all-out policy, but the other lodges voted solidly against it. Four hundred returned soldiers at West Maitland endorsed the proposal to establish a Labour Defence ' Corps, and resolved to pledge themselves to fight strenuously in any way th"o Miners' Federation may direct. The- "Herald's" Canberra . correspondent says that in all probabilityreferendum on the question of amending the constitution to give increased industrial powers to the Commonwealth will be held in July before the Prime Minister,"Mr. Scullin, departs to attend the Imperial Conference in London. It is understood that the necessary legislation will, be introduced immediately Parliament resumes in March. '