WATERSIDERS RESUME

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 September 1928, Page 6

WATERSIDERS RESUME

SHORT-LIVED STRIKE.'

(Australian Press Association.) (By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.)

SYDNEY, September 16. The waterside strike sensationally collapsed. A conference of the Waterside Workers’ Federation in Melbourne has decided by 47 votes to>22 to instruct the members at all ports to resume work under the terms of the new award on Monday. The decision was only reached “after a hot debate, the militants attempting to prolong the strike. The main factors which decided the men to return were the owners’ determined attitude and a threat to engage free labour, while another cause for the speedy termination of the strike was a shortness in the funds of the watersiders to carry on the war. ; Mr Hogan, Premier of Victoria, has arranged a conference with the shipowners to discuss this aspect of the strike. Although lasting'only a week the strike cost the country over a million sterling.

QUEENSLAND’S REFUSAL. SYDNEY, September 16. The Queensland delegates ■ to the Melbourne Watersiders’ Conference have refused to accept the ruling of the Conference to resume work, stating that they would not recommence work except under, the old State Award. This attitude may prevent the resumption of work to-morrow. The shipowners may insist on the observance of the Beeby Award in Queensland prior to the resuming of work in the other ports.