THOUSANDS IDLE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 3 December 1927, Page 5

THOUSANDS IDLE

TRADE PARALYSED. EFFECTS OF OVERTIME STRIKE. SERIOU'S CONFLICT THREATENED BY CABI-E—PEEB9 ASSOCIATION--COPYBIGHT SYDNEY, Doc. 2. The waterside workers to-day are plenteously reaping the fruit of their decision not to work overtime. The overseas and inter-State vessels in all ports are practically all tied up. It is estimated that 135 vessels and 35,000 men are idle as a result of the opening moves in what threatens to be a most serious conflict. In Sydney alone 33 ships with a tonnage of 170,000 are idle. The Trades Hall estimates that if the trouble extends the number of unemployed in the waterside and kindred occupations in New South will exceed 21,000, not including 25,000 coalminers, should the trouble, as it threatens to do, lead to the closing of the coalmines. GOVERNMENT ACTION NOT DESIRED. PROSPECTS FOR A SETTLEMENT. MOVEMENT ALREADY BEGUN.

CANBERRA, Dec. 2. The House of Representatives, after an all night sitting, negatived_ Mr. Charlton’s amendment by 34 to 15, and carried the Rt. Hon. S. M. Bruce’s motion by 33 to 16. In the course of the debate, Mr. Bruce said that the necessary labour for loading primary produce must he obtained. It would be essential to ensure adequate protection to those who gave their services for that purpose. If that course became necessary the Ministry woukl have to get into touch with State Ministers and endeavour to arrange such protection. He added : “This Parliament has considerable power under the Crimes Act. The Ministry can issue a proclamation declaring that a state of industrial unrest exists and then take action as it thinks necessary.” Mr. Charlton, in reply, said that he had been in communication with Mr. Seale, of the Watersiders’ Federation, and Mr. Holloway, secretary of the Melbourne Trades Hall Council. Sir. Seale’s opinion was that Government action would only make the position worso. Mr. Hollowny held clocl&.rod that it would he a fatal blunder for the Ministry to act at present. He ‘ was sure t,he dispute could he settled. Mr. Bruce here interjected: “There will be no action by the Government if there is a chance of settlement.” Mr. Charlton continued to say that he was prepared, in co-operation with Mr. Bruce, to endeavour to bring the parties to the dispute together, and he believed the strike could be settled within two or three days. Mr. Scullin told the House that he could with authority state that steps were being taken that within a few days would bring about a settlement. CARGO PILING UP. SYDNEY. Dec. 2. The Mnunganui sailed at 4 p.m. for Wellington and the Marama at 4.45 p.m. for Auckland. Both got away on time, the onlv trouble experienced as a result of the strike being that the Marama was compelled to leave he-/ hind some 200 tons of cargo and the' Mnunganui a small portion. All inter-State ports report a complete cessation of waterfront activity, and the cargo is piling up on the wharves, which are already congested. The railways are reaping the benefit of the large amount of passenger and freight traffic intended for sea- transit, bnt"which is now diverted to the railways. WOOL SHIPS DELAYED. OWNERS TALK ABOUT FIGHT TO A FINISH. SYDNEY, Dec. 2. Of the vessels lying idle in Sydney, 15 are wool ships whose quick loading is a. matter of importance to meet the overseas wool sales dates. The stoppage is also a heavy blow to interstate shipowners, who were preparing to handle the heavy Christmas trade. Much interest centres in the steps the Federal and State Governments propose to adopt to meet the situation. Regarding the rumours that the shipowners might employ non-union labour, the owners describe these rumours as premature. The strike affects the whole marine transport group, including seamen, watersiders, stewards, cooks, .shipwrights, ship painters, dockers, trolley and draymen, and coal lumpers. Representatives of every section of this group are being summoned to a conference at Melbourne with, the object of establishing the control and direction of industrial activity in the dispute. A Melbourne message states that the wharves to-clav presented a. desolate appearance. Excepting the loading of one Commonwealth steamer, all work was at a. standstill.

The shipowners are awaiting advices from other inter-State ports before attempting to evolve a. definite tiolicy for the future. One of them declared there was no chance of a compromise; the owners would fight to a finish. A message from Canberra states that when Mr. Charlton (Labour) asked Mr. Bruce to supply information regarding the watersiders’ strike, the Prime Minister requested that questions he not asked alto lit the strike wtihout notice. The situation was so delicate that he was not going to run the risk of prejudicing it by unconsidered statements. However, he promised to do anything in his power to bring the two sides together and endeavour to effect ap amicable settlement. MUCH. INTEREST TN BRITAIN LONDON, Dec. 2. British shipping and commercial interests a lie watching the Australian strike anxiously. The newspapers are giving prominence to the cables. It is a tragic coincidence that while the news from Canberra reports Mr. Bruce’s reference to thousands of boxes of butter being left unloaded, a full column advertisement is appearing in the “Daily Herald” urging housewives of the workers to buy Australian butter. as the best value offered. The P. and 0. Company informed the “Daily Chronicle” that it hoped the Maloja would not he delayed more than a few days, as it was thought the unloading would proceed in the daytime. No decision was given regarding other liners now en voyage to Australia, The “Daily "Express” under a front page streamer heading, recalls that the 1925 strike, which cost millions before its collapse.’ was caused by the seamen. This time the dock workers' 'are responsible.