THE COOKS’ DISPUTE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 23 May 1928, Page 3

THE COOKS’ DISPUTE.

A COHERENCE OF THEIR OWN WANTED

Received Tuesday, 8.0 p.m. SYDNEY, May 22. Mr. J. Tudehope, general secretary oi. the Marino Cooks* Union, states that the Union is now going to endeavour to convene a conference with owners to discuss proposed terms of settlement.

Mr. Tudehope strongly defended the action of the cooks yesterday in refusing the mediation of the Australian and New Zealand tfouncil of Trades Unions, stating that they do not recognise the latter’s authority to intervene in the matter without the consent of the organisation directly concerned. He added that the Union intended to notify owners that the Australian and New Zealand Council of Trades Unions was acting without the authority of the cooks and that the latter were now going to attempt to arrange a conference to discuss the question of the abolition of the roster system together with other terms. Dethridge’s Dictum. In the Commonwealth Arbitration Court to-day, Chief Judge Dethridge, dealing with the new award for the Merchant Service Guild, said that he intended to put in all future awards a clause that in the event of an unreasonable strike or lock-out the award shall be suspended. Negotiations Nugatory. A Melbourne message states that the conference between the owners and the Australian and New Zealand Council of Trades Unions, which the owners granted yesterday, discussed the position for an hour and a-half, but achieved nothing in the direction of a settlement. The owners stood firmly by their terms already announced. Meamyhile, hundreds of men, opposed to a strike, are idle and helpless. The Trades Union Council is unable to obtain replies to its messages to Mr. Tudehope, the cooks’ general secretary, who is recalcitrant. He declined to allow his Union to bo represented at the conference with the shipowners.

The deputy-chairman of the Commonwealth Steamship Owners’ Association, Air. Elford, stated that there was a full and free discussion by the conference, and the shipowners pointed out to the Trades Union representatives that the offer they had made to the cooks lacked nothing they enjoyed under their former award.

Air. Jacob Johnson, secretary of the Australian Seamen’s Union, who has returned to Sydney, declared that Che Council of Trades Un'ons were- a lot ot bushrangers, and were tailing part in the dispute without the cooks’ authority, while some Melbourne officials appeared to be the willing tools of the shipowners. Will Make New Efforts. . The Melbourne report adds that despite the fact that the cooks repudiated the intervention of the Australian and New Zealand Council of Trades Unions it is expected the Council will endeavour to reopen negotiations with the owners. . If the cooks ’ leaders continue to refuse to recognise the Council’s miLioiL tv the Council will conclude terms of settlement with the owners and take control of tlm dispute out ot the cooks loaders hands. _________