WATERSIDE STRIKE.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10451, 5 December 1927, Page 5

WATERSIDE STRIKE.

BRITISH And foreign shir

OWNERS

WARNING ISSUED TO STRIKERS

(United .Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received Dec. 4, 5,5 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 2.

■British and foreign ■ shipowners trading with Australia have issued a statement pointing out that' Australia will in a short time..be.completely, isolated and asserting- that -the present deadlock has. been forced upon ' them ■ by; the - Workers’ Federation treating, the conditions of the Arbitration Court’s, award contemptuously. The shipowners have no wish to prolong the .stoppage, but, unless the men are prepared to accept the' conditions- laid down by the (Jam r will be .necessary, in order to prevent complete paralysis of. trade, to take prompt steps In obtain any labor, -including watersiders, if willing, which may come forward under the terras of tile awards.—N.Z. and A.P.A. and Sun. MOVE FOR SETTLEMENT. RUMORED TERMS’BY WORKERS (Received Dec. 4? 5.5 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Dee. 2 , A definite-move in the way of a settlement of the watersiders’ strike was made yesterday by Mr Crofts, secretary of the Federal Trades Union Committee, who telegraphed to Mr Bruce .".offering to give all. possible assistance to-morrow to secure an amicable settlement. ’Cross plaints by the Waterside Workers’ 'Federation and the Commonwealth Steamship Owners’ Association and the other shipowners involved will be mentioned in the Federal Arbitration Court, Melbourne, to-morrow. It is understood than, the following terms of settlement are to be suggested, unofficially, by union mediators to the Court officials—lliac. the overtime strike be declav-’d off; that tile men resume . work at all ports under the award conditions; chat the question of one or two pick-ups be left to the board of rmorcuce: and that the Court hear limindiavffiy the men’s log claims. The management committee ot the Waterside Workers’ Federation, in ail official statement, declares that it has accepted the challenge ot the shipowners and will use all tin Rices at its command to supperfc its position. The statement adds: “The committee of management has made every endeavor to. localise .the, dispute to its own occupations. ’ After dealing with the at t-Uide • ot the two sides to the dispure the statement* goes on :- “The shipowners, to cover up the weakness of their position and confuse the public mind as to ,he issue, have launched what they me pleased to call an ultimatum, which is the direct result of their failure to stampede our members.” The crews of vessels are being paid olf as they reach port. The steamer Port Denison got away for New Zealand on Friday; ADELAIDE. Dee. 2. Wharf laborers attended the pickups yesterday, but their services were not required. While the men aro obeying the orders cl the hoard of management, thev appear, individually, to have little heart in the struggle.—U.P.A. ECHOES IN ENGLAND. DEPRESSION IN FREIGHT MARKET. (Received December 4, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. Dec. 2. Among the results of the Australian strike is depression in freight markets, as ships, which; should have been employed carrying Australian grain, are compelled to seek employment elsewhere.• The Morning Post shipping correspondent savs the only really active market is the River Plate, which- is inundated with tonnage seeking employment. The Pacific trade is expected to absorb a considerable amount of tonnage between now and February, but, with Australia out of the running, charterers are getting all they require at cheap rates. Australia will have to charter sooner or latter and, when the strike is- over, tonnage will have to- be attracted probably at appreciably ( hisi£C Wtes; than now ruling.-—A.N.Z.C.A. ' (Received Dec. 4, 0.0 p.m., LONDON, Dec. 2. The Seamen’s Union and Transport Workers’ Union adopted a ‘ ‘wait and see” attitude in connection with the Australian strike. Neither has up to the present received official news (bpjjiii Australia and do not contemplate action. —A.N.Z.C.A. A DUBE CALAMITY XMAS GOODS ABOARD G 4 LINERS HOLD-UP WILL MEAN BOND 1 STORAGE FOR YEAR MANY THOUSANDS OF MEN IDLE ten THOUSAND MINERS MAY BE AFFECTED SYDNEY, Dee. 3. There are approximately G 4 overseas steamers, in Australian waters, with a tonnage of 440,000. All these are affected, by the strike. MV Meeks, president of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce, states that a complete hold-up of shipping at the present juncture can only be described as a dire calamity. All steamers' are carrying seasonable goods which, if they cannot lie placed on the market for the Christinas trade, will have to remain in bond stores for 12 months, and the risk of deterioration and loss of interest will be a heavy burden for the commercial community.—U.P.A. A V. LATEST- NEAYS. CONFERENCES 1 THIS WEEK. (Received December 5, -1 a.m.) ■SYDNEY, Deo. 4, A number of. representatives of overseas companies to-night departed for -Melbourne, where important to discuss : the strike 'position. The effects are 'already, beginning to be severely felt, outside direct shipping occupations. Carting and other firms are largely reducing their hands.— LLP.A. * . ; . A COLOSSAL LOSS '- • i!30,0p0 -A DAY - / -SYDNEY, Dee. 3. As the strike is developing the effects' arq becoming more widespread. Many thousands of men have been rendered idle throughout the Commonwealth, involving a colossal loss to industry. All 'iptev-Stute commerce Las ceased, and the loss of wages alone’ is estimated at £130,000 a day. The waterfront at Sydney presents a desolate appearance, for. apart From, the few' ships which are exemoted from" tlie 'operations* of the strike, the harbor is filled with idle ships, and tthe wharves hire deserted . . I - ■ ■ ‘ V : ’ if, is exnected that to-day 10,000 miners, in the northern coalfields will . CContd at. Foot of Next Column.) .