SYDNEY DOCKS DISPUTE

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 May 1945, Page 6

SYDNEY DOCKS DISPUTE

BRITISH LABOUR SUPPLY.

SYDNEY, May fl

About 3000 British artisans 1 are coming to Australia as dockyard workers for the British Pacific Fleet. This is reported to-day by a political correspondent of the Sydney “Sun,” who says that these British workers are being sent to overcome delays to repairs and maintenance to British ships caused by local industrial troubles. The British workers will be classed as naval ratings. The Commander-In-Chief of the Fleet, Admiral Fraser, has revealed that such hold-ups arc resulting in ships being sent to battle areas without receiving proper docking attention in Sydney. The correspondent adds: Federal Ministers are understood to have warned the Sydney Waterfront Union leaders that if the stoppages continue the number of British dock workers to come to Australia will be increased from 3900 to 5000.

One of the biggest political gales of the present stormy session of the Federal Parliament is expected over a continued strike of 3000 Sydney dockyard workers, which has been caused by. a petty internecine argument within the Ironworkers’ Union. Sir Bruce Fraser’s statement is regarded in Parliamentary lobbies as an unmistakable indication that the British Fleet is not getting the ser-

vicing from Australia to which the Government earlier pledged the country. The Commonwealth Director of Shipping, Sir Thomas' Gordon,- said to-day that delay to ships in Sydney was serious. Some vessels had been held up for weeks awaiting repairs. In Canberra, the Acting-Prime Minister. .Mr. Chifley indicated that, the shipping delays were causing the Government continuous concern. Many trade union officials, as well as Opposition leaders and the entire Australian Press to-day castigate the striking dockvarci •workers.