LICENSING THREAT

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 135, 4 December 1935, Page 11

LICENSING THREAT

OFFICIAL TJLTBIATTJII

WARNING FROM CANBERRA

CANBERRA, December 3.

The Prime Minister, Mr. J. A. Lyons, convened a special Cabinet meeting this afternoon to discuss the strike.

Tonight he announced in the House of Representatives that the Government would give the seamen 48 boars to return to work, failing: which it would apply the Transport Workers Act now operating in the case of waterside workers at several ports, and under which men seeking employment on ships would require to. obtain licences.

PERMANENT EXCLUSION.

Mr. Lyons said that should it prove necessary to apply the provisions of the Transport Workers' Act its application would not be temporary but permanent, and seamen who refused to resume work would find themselves excluded from future employment in the Australian shipping industry. He added that the Government would not hesitate to grant permits to oversea ships to engage in both inter-State passenger and cargo sendees .should the remanning of inter-State steamers prove impracticable.

Arrangements have already been made by the James Patrick Co., Ltd., to man their ships with volunteer labour.