Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28th., 1927. WATERSIDE STRIKE

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 November 1927, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28th., 1927. WATERSIDE STRIKE

JIIIP-OWNERS, as a class, are not over-popular with the public, who believe that the former take advantage of their commercial powers, but there will be general opinion that in the waterside dispute in Australia, right is on the side of the shipowners. The men have started an over-time strike, the reason for which is not clear, unless it be a case of endeavouring to force the ship-owners to agree to a new award providing greater wages etc. Experience proves that little or no excuse is wanted by Federation officials to make the men cease work, and this instance is no more glaring than some that have occurred earlier.

The rates paid for working overtime are generous, and many of the men, with families to keep, must be glad of the opportunity to get such comparatively easy money. Overtime cannot be clone without, where -ships’ cargoes are con corned, as it is costly for vessels to be detained at port longer than is absolutely necessary. The present dispute is simply another attempt at job-control, and it is to be hoped that it will end in complete failure. The public have to pay for all increases of cost in the shipping industry, thus the people have a real interest in the present dispute. If the watersiders were “down-trodden,” or had wellfounded grievances, public sympathy would be with them, but the Federation’s attitude is merely an attempt to bully. Arbitration Courts’ awards are.not honoured by the men, and it is little wonder that the shipping companies have lost patience, and now declare that if the men do not agree to work overtime as from Wednesday morning next, no work will be offered to them.

This should bring the men to iheir senses. The Federation may

attempt to bluff and bluster, but unless they get the seamen and other transport unions to strike, the watersiders will have to accept overtime When necessary. There are no signs that the strike is popular either with the watersider.s or seamen, and with the large number of unemployed in Sydney and elsewhere in Australia, it appears probable that the Federation will be defeated, and that soon. Circumstances, generalare against strikes succeeding. The financial and economic position in Australia is far from rosy, and the failure of the latest Commonwealth loan issue in London is evidence of the uncertainty of outlook. Co-operation and industrial peace were never more necessary, and the fact that the Watersiders’ Federal ion has chosen this moment for a display of the “big stick’’ is proof of the executive’s unfitness to lead.

Every Australian State is faced with monetary shortage, the loans increase every year, until the annual interest bill is a real burden. Imports have exceeded exports, which made more loans necessary, and national extravagance has been rampant. No country could continue as Australia has acted of late years, without paying the penalty, which now appears about due. To start unnecessary industrial disputes is a crime, and the earlier the unions* realise the true position the less will be the sufferings of their members and their dependents. Australia cannot afford strikes, or further bolstering of “going-slow.” The account is bQing rendered for past extravagance and mistakes, and until some heavy progress payments have been made, employers and employed must agree to conditions neither desire. For Australia’s good, it is to be hoped that the watersiders’ strike ends immediately, and that the shipping owners really mean what they threaten, if awards are not honourably observed.