WATERSIDE DISPUTE

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 September 1928, Page 7

WATERSIDE DISPUTE

COUNCIL’S INTERVENTION MEN TO RESUME WORK (Australian Press Association.) (By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.) / MELBOURNE, September 14. As the result of a favourable reception to a proposal that the whole waterside dispute be placed in the hands of the Australian and New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, which was made at the Watersiders’ Conference, the prospects of a settlement are considerably brighter. The watersiders realise that if the owners carry out their threat to engage non-union labour,, the strike ’will not last long, unlesss it becomes geenral, and many other industries are involved; and if the dfspute spreads from the waterfront the great bulk of public opinion would be against the strikers. 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 commencement of negotiations with the shipowners. If this is done, it means that the watersiders are aban-. doning the position they have adopted, and casting the onus of retreat upon, the Council. The Council commenced negotiations to-day, when they arranged an interview with the watersiders’ leaders and Mr. Hogan (Victorian Premier) . ’ 1 , ■ . A conference of the shipowners decided to write the Watersiders’ Federation, giving it one more opportunity to order the men to return to work.

JUDGE BEEBY’S RULING.

SYDNEY, September 14.

Following the application of the shipowners, Judge Beeby, who is ill in. , bed, had the Court convened at his bedside, and ruled that a strike exists in the shipping industry. The owners at Sydney are now preparing to engage volunteeT labour. Many applications have already been received. . , The Ulimaroa sailed for Wellington . at 1 p.m. • ■ v FREE LABOUR AT ADELAIDE. ADELAIDE, September 14. A commencement was made in un- \ loading the cargo steamer Milora with free labour. Work proceeded quietly. The Woolbrokers’ Association, after . considering the delays caused to wool shipments by the strike, decided to postpone the sales fixed for next Friday, unless there are prospects of an early settlement.

UNIONS UNSYMPATHETIC

SYDNEY, Sept. 15.

Officers of the Australian Labour Party are of the opinion that the strike will be short-lived as the watersiders have no funds. The attitude of the other’ maritime unions towards the watersiders is more or less frigid and it would not come as a surprise to fellow unionists, if the waterside workers during the week-end instructed their Federation officials now’ sitting at Melbourne to capitulate on the owners’ terms. , . ,

PORT NAPIER DISPUTE.

AUCKLAND, September-14.

The dispute regarding the discharge of Auckland cargo from the Port Napier, was settled this afternoon, and the watersiders resuriied work. They are to be paid a flat rate of 2s lid an hour, an increase of sixpence on the award rate, this increase to be retrospective. - ;