THE SHIPPING WAR

Evening Star, Issue 18808, 5 December 1924, Page 3

THE SHIPPING WAR

PEACE SUGGESTIONS. MR BRUCE DISCUSSES POSITION. BOTH SIDES CENSURED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Press Association. MELBOURNE, December 4. Peace negotiations between the shipowners and the Waterside Workers’ Federntion were resumre! with a more hopelul outlook for a settlement. There is also a brighter prospect of a settlement of the I'reman tie dispute, which is in the hands of the Slates Disputes Committee. Mr Bruce, speaking at Damlenong, described the shipping strike as a national calamity. He said the shipowners weie fighting in a relentless, selfish spirit, and (hoy would earn universal censure. He also hinted that ‘if the workers did not change their attitude there would he a sweeping change in the industrial system. Mr Bruce said there were in the ranks of the shipowners, the seamen, and the wharf laborers, extremists who were prepared to eo to any length in order to achieve their own selfish and sectional ends. He appealed to both sections to approach the question in a spirit of compromise. THE MORETON BAY. STEWARDS’ DISPUTE SETTLED. SYDNEY. December 4. The Stewards’ Union has agreed to supply a crew for the More ton Bay unconditionally, and the vessel will sail on Saturday. This decision points to the early cessation of the dispute between the Commonwealth Line and the unions. ARBITRATION COURT’S FUNCTION. CONFERENCE MAY BE ARRANGED. ' MELBOURNE, December 5. (Received December 5, at 9.30 a.m.) It is expected that a conference between the parties to the shipping dispute will result from the Arbitration Court’s intervention. The prospects of settlement by Unit means are regarded as favorable. The matter will come before the Arbitration Court to-day WRIT SERVED ON UNIONS. MELBOURNE, December 5. (Received December 5, at 9-30 a.m.) A writ, returnable to the High Court, was served on the officials of the Watersidors’ Federation and the officers ot (he other maritime unions, who are alleged to he engaged in the conduct of the overtime strike. Application is being made in the writ on behalf oi the overseas shipping companies for an injunction against the unions to restrain them from conducting the strike, which, it is claimed, is a. breach of the award. THE WOOLLOOMOOLOO CLASHES. Serious clashes between loyalist wharf laborers and unionists occurred at Woollnonmoloo recently. Over a thousand men. women, and children became involved, hut a small body of police, who were reinforced during the disturbances, succeeded in restoring order. Fists and feet were freely exerciaed. and many eases of minor injury were reported/ None, however, was serious enough for hospital treatment. I hree men were arrested. Inspector Woodrow, who is in charge of (he Woolloonmolno wharf area, relate,! that a small party of bureau workers were freely taunted by women and children as they wore having their tea in a small restaurant in Dowling street —which happens to ho distinctly unionist territory—and soon a crowd gathered. Several of the men got into conflict, and in a few minutes the fifteen loyalists were threatened by fully 100 of the, strikers. At this stage tlie police arrived—the inspector and a sergeant with two men. “ There was general confusion, and it was difficult to make the loyalists mu from the unionists,” said the inspector. “ The women and children were in the thick of it all, ami fists and feet, were doing vigorous work. More men hurried from the lintels, which were still open, and the sHuation became ugly. However, we succeeded eventually in getting the bureau men together, and moved them down to the wharf. Then wo got reinforcements.’ Meanwhile, the officer explained, a bigger figlu had broken out in lorbee street. where 100 loyalists, who had gone to William street, for their ten, were attacked while marching hack to the wharL Fully a thousand people had gathered, and when he and ten other ofheere and constables arrived on the scene the fight was in full swing. Hero, (no. things were badly confused* and men and women were punching and kicking wildly, Someone threw a brick wrapped in fell—evidently a door weight. The police bad a hard job in straight mine out the tangle and separating (he fighters, but their work ended in their getting the rival forces drawn up on either"'side of the tram line. The intervening “No Man s Land was jealously guarded by the small force until reinforcements arrived from Noe. 1, 'A and 4 stations, and from George Street North. The bureau men were then escorted back to the wharves, where they resumed work. . By 7.30 conditions were again nuly normal, and no further trouble occurred during the night, beyond a minor disturbance on hoard the Orendos, where certain of the crew acted menacingly towards the bureau workers. The speedy arrival of the police, however, prevented outbreak. A special tram at 11 o'clock brought the Orcades’s loyalists together with 0 the police into the city. Two of the men arrested during the street brawl were charged_ with riotous behaviour, and the other with assault. _ The police exercised tact and restraint during the rows, and did not draw their batons.