Maritime Trouble

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIV, Issue 278, 4 November 1924, Page 5

Maritime Trouble

Strike in Australia SHIPPING LAYING UP. PROSPECTS AT SYDNEY. By Cable—Press A ahoc! at ion—Copyright.] (Received 4, 11.5 a.m.) Sydney, Nov. 4. As the result of the watersiders’ overtime strike, several cargo steamers will be laid up immediately, and in order to avoid otherwise inevitable congestion in various ports it is feared it may be necessary to lay. up more tonnage. The Trolley and Draymen’s Union has not yet been officially informed of the watersiders’ action, and its members are doing nothing in connection with the trouble. It is reported that the steamer Ferndale, of tlie Commonwealth Line, which does not employ bureau labour, had to refuse a cargo of 5000 tons of wheat because of tlie attitude of the wharf labourers. This cargo will now be carried by some other vessel and loaded by bureau labour. MELBOURNE MEN STANDING OUT. NINE-HOUR DAY ON WHARVES. Sydney, Nov. 3. In accordance with the decision reached at Saturday’s meeting, no members of the Waterside Workers’ Federation commenced work on the wharves before 8 o'clock this morning. r'ew vessels, however, are so far affected by this overtime strike. On all overseas boats other than the Commonwealth line, Canadian Marine and Wiltshire’s Japanese lines work went on as usual, men working right through from uieir previous shifts. The Newcastle wharf labourers are adopting tactics similar to those of the oydney men. A meeting of representatives of the transport group of unions adopted a resolution condemning the action of the Melbourne watersiders in refusing to obey the decision of the waterside conference. It was further resolved to notify the transport workers in Meloourhe that all work after 5 o’clock is against the principle of cnionism. the meeting also congratulated the committee of management on suspending the Melbourne branches MELBOURNE UNIONS SUSPENDED Melbourne, Nov. 3. A fresh development has cropped up in connection with the waterfront trouble. The committee of management of the Waterside Workers’ Federation, which is the governing council for Australia, resolved to suspend the Melbourne branches for deciding at Saturday’s meeting not to participate in the overtime strike. The secretary of the federation has telegraphed to branches throughout the Commonwealth informing them that the policy adopted at the recent Sydney conference will be strictly, adhered to. ft is stated that the Melbourne □ranches are the only ones that have ignored the Federal body out of a total of 62. STRIKE AT HOBART. Hobart, Nov. 3. The waterside workers enforced the jvertime strike but like Sydney only certain lines are affected. On other vessels the men continued to work through the shifts. THE COMMONWEALTH LINE. SERIOUS DISPUTE THREATENED. DISMISSAL OF STEWARDS. (Received 4, 10.15 a.m.) Sydney, Nov. 4. There is a serious dispute threatened □wing to the dismissal of 48 stewards from the Commonwealth line Moreton Bay. On the last voyage Home two passengers became insane, and the captain ordered the chief steward to tell off a steward to keep a watch over each of the patients. The stewards, as a body, refused to carry, out the order. It was decided to take no action till the vessel returned to Australia. An inquiry was held, but no representative of the stewards was invited to attend and the full complement of effective stewards was dismissed.