RESISTANCE BY UNIONS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22405, 12 August 1947, Page 5

RESISTANCE BY UNIONS

LOADING OF DUTCH SHIPS (10 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Aug. 12. The request by the Prime Minister, Mr. J. B Chifley, that unions lift the ban on Dutch ships trading in the Holland-Australia service, providing that they do not visit Indonesia, was considered by a special executive of the Australasian Council of Trade Unions yesterday. After a meeting which lasted all day no decision was reached. It is evident that there was considerable resistance to any relaxation of the ban on loading, maintenance or repair of Dutch ships m Australian ports. Mr. Chifley’s urgent plea was conveyed to the meeting by Australian Council of Trade Unions officials who saw him in Canberra last week. The Prime Minister said these ships on the Holland-Australia run were carrying cargoes urgently n™™ “ Australia. They were also carping from Australia important exports, u the Dutch ships were withdrawn it would jeopardise Australia s chance ol getting extra British ships. When the meeting adjourned late last night it was announced that it had been decided to convene the conference of 17 unions which imposed the general ban last week. The matters to be placed before this conference were not disclosed, but it is believed that A C T.U. will urge the unions to modily the ban to apply only to ships trading to Indonesia. It is thought piobable that the unions will adopt this course.