IN MOSCOW’S GRIP

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 125, 10 May 1928, Page 5

IN MOSCOW’S GRIP

AUSTRALIAN TRADES UNION POLITICALLY AND INDUSTRIALLY. WORKERS’ EXECUTIVE’S Declaration. fUnited Frees Aesn.—By CableCopyright.) [Australian and N.Z. Pres, Assn.] (Received 10, 11.0 a.m.) Sydney, Mav 10. An official statement by the executive of the Australian Workers' Union declares unreservedly that the Australian Trade Union movement is in the grip of Moscow. The statement recites events, political and industrial, for the past nine years in support of this contention, BELATED MAILS. MARINE COOKS RESPONSIBLE. [Australian and N.Z. Press Assn.) (Received 10. 9.25 a.m.) Sydney, May 10. The dislocation of shipping between Australia and New Zealand due to the cooks’ strike was responsible for an incident unique in the history of the Grafton north coast yesterday when 18 bags of mails from New Zealand for the Australia!! States were landed there, the mails being despatched from New Zealand to Australia bv any available vessel. Th e Poolta. which makes periodica] trips, brought, this consignment dated Mav 2, winch will be distributed today. ULTIMATUM DEFIED. COOKS IN BITTER MOOD. [Australian and N.Z. Press Assn.l Sydney, May 9. The strikers defied the owners’ ultimatum that the ships must be manned by to-day. When a call was made for a butcher for the Kanowna. which at present is under Huddart Parker Company control, there was no response, as anticipated. Due to the men’s defiance of the owners' ultimatum the latter will tie up all inter-Sta+e ships until continuity of sailing is assured. It is now feared in union circles that volunteer labour will be engaged. The chairman of the Commonwealth Steamship Owners' Association stated in Melbourne that the prospects for a settlement of the dispute ar 6 not bright, as it is known that the Sydney branch has been instructed not to supply a butcher for the Kanowna, the whole of the crew of which will be paid off and the vessel laid up. A conference of maritime organisations and the Trades Hall disputes committee in Melbourne, after discussing the cooks’ dispute, referred the matter to the Australasian Council of Trade Unions. Further secret negotiations then took ptace, and it is considered likely fh 6 cooks will be instructed to resume work, or, alternatively, not to extend the dispute, and to give the council an opportunity of intervening. It is believed an attempt is being marie to form a rival marine cooks’ union, tho members of which will be given the same award as the deregistered cooks, in the event of the strikers on the Huddart Parker boats continuing the fight.