SHIPS STILL IDLE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 136, 23 May 1928, Page 5

SHIPS STILL IDLE

COOKS REQUEST CONFERENCE OWNERS’ ATTITUDE MAINTAINED. AGALLEYS MUST BE MANNED FIRST. [United Press Assn.-By Cable— Copyright.) [Australian and N.Z. Press Assn.l (Received 23, 9.25 a.m.) Melbourne, May 23. The Shipowners’ Association has received a telegram from Mr. Tudehope. at Sydney, requesting a conference to discuss a settlement and declaring that the Trades Union Council has no authority to act on the cooks’ behalf. The shipowners’ secretary, Mr. Elford, replied:— “We will meet your representatives with or without representations of other bodies to discuss, a settlement. We have already informed you on two occasions of the terms on which we are ready to engage your members. These take nothing away from you to which you were previously entitled but. after the ships of all members of my organisation are fully manned, if there is any difficulty as regards details, we are prepared to give consideration to any suggestion you may make.’’ A meeting of th© combined committee of the Maritime Unions and the Trades Union Council passed a resolution to resist to the utmost any attempt by the etaployers to engage non-union labour for ships: also to resist the abolition of the roster system which for years has been a condition of employment as well as a clause of the Cooks' Union rules, and liefore the owners get their way in this matter the Arbitration Court should be consulted, ANOTHER SHIP LAID UP. [Australian and N.Z Press Assn.] (Received 23 10.55 a.».) Sydney, May 22. Another inter-State passenger vessel the Dimboola. is to be laid up bv the owners as the result, of the cooks’ strike. The crew will he given 24 hours’ notice on her arrival from West Australia. AT LOGGERHEADS. COOKS" AND T.U.C. (Australian and N.Z. Press Asen.l Sydney, May 22. Mr. Tudehope secretary of the Marine Cooks’ Union, stated that the union would endeavour to convene a conference with the owners to discuss proposed terms of settlement. <r. Tudehdpe strongly defended tho action of the cooks in refusing mediation by the Australia and New Zealand Council of Trade Unions stating that they do not recognise the latter's authority to intervene in the matter without the consent of the organisation directly concerned. Despite the fact that the cooks had repudiated intervention by the Council of Trade Unions, it was expected the council would endeavour to re-Oi-en negotiations with the owners. If tho cooks' leaders continue to refuse to recognise the council’s authority the council will conclude terms of settlement with the owners and take the control of the dispute Out of the cooks’ leaders’ hands.