COOKS’ DISPUTE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 138, 25 May 1928, Page 5

COOKS’ DISPUTE

SETTLEMENT STILL DEFERRED POSSIBILITY OF VOLUNTEER LABOUR. SYDNEY LABOUR COUNCIL SUPPORT STRIKE. [United Press Assn— By CableCopyright.) [Australian and N.Z. Press Asan.l (Received 25, 8.55 a.m.) Melbourne, May 25. Mr Tudehope has reached Melbourne again. At a meeting of the Trades Hall Council last night the following letter in reply to the invitation to Mr. Tudehope to attend was read: ‘‘l respectfully desire to inform you that I am at present engaged in negotiations for the settlement of the cooks' dispute. I feel it would be inadvisable for me to take part in your proceedings.” Mr. Tudehope. however, was a listener in the visitors’ gallery. Industrial officers of the various shipping companies are at present conferring as to the number and nuality of the volunteer labour offering so that in the event of a strike coming a definite move may be made on the appointed date to man the ships with free labour. Union officials do not treat this threat seriously. SUPPORT FROM SYDNEY. (Australian and N.Z. Press Asan.l (Received 25 10.0 a m ) Sydney, May 25. The Labour Council of Sydney carried a resolution supporting the cooks’ strike QUESTION OF AUTHORITY. WHO CONTROLS COOKS? [Australian and N.Z. Press Assn.l Melbourne, May 24. A meeting of the Australasian Council of Trade Unions and Maritime Union officials decided to ask Trades Hall Councils throughout Australia to decide w-ether the Australasian Council of Trade Unions is to continue to control the cooks’ dispute. with the authority of the rest of the industrial movement or whether the cooks are to be allowed to defy the whole industrial movement. 11 WEEKS GONE. .Australian aud N.Z Press Assn.l Sydney., Ma v 24. In the manno cooks’ dispute there is still no sigp of a settlement at the end of eleven weeks since the Uiirnaroa was held up. Business men urge an increase in cargo fleets Hl order to meet trading neeas. GOVERNMENT ACTION. QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE. [Australian and N.Z. Press Assn.l Canberra, May 24. In the House of Representatives, Mr. ’ Earle Page, in reply to a question, said if a request was made by the proper persons for the temporary suspension of the coastal clauses of the Navigation Act, in view of the stoppage of shipping activities caused by the marine cooks’ strike, the Government would give due consideration to it. THREAT OF UNION SPLIT / WATERSIDERS JOIN COOKS. [Australian and N.Z. Press Assn.) Melbourne, May 24. The Waterside Workers’ Federation has informed the Australasian Council of Trade Unions that it is standing behind Mr. Tudehope, and the Cooks’ Union in the latter's dispute with the owners. His decision will have a far-reaching effect on the waterfront and may develop into the biggest union split in the industrial history of Australia. The decision was reached following an interview between Mr. Tudehope and the management committee cj the federation, and mean s that the watersiders and the cooks are ranged together against the Australian Council of Trade Unions and the whole *of the other maritime unions.