WATERSIDE STRIKE

Hokitika Guardian, 29 September 1928, Page 5

WATERSIDE STRIKE

BRISBANE WATERSIDERS’ STRIKE. (Australian Press Association). (United Service). (Received this clay at 8 a.in.) BRISBANE, Sept. 29. The Watersiders’ Conference decided to call a strike of all waterside workers thougliout Queensland. CHALLENGING TRANPORT ACT. POSSIBLE EXTENDED STRIKE. MELBOURNE, Sept. 29. The Australasian Council of Trades Unions, at a meeting decided to issue instructions to wharf labourers in all States not to register under the new Transport Act. This is apparently the first move in a struggle likely to embroil the whole Ooanrn on wealth in a strike of a magnitude never before experienced.

ON THE WATERFRONT. FORCES MOBILISED AGAINST WORKERS. SYDNEY, September 28, Mr Bruce, referring to the waterside strike, said, the holding up of wool sales through the strike was a national tragedy. The Federal Government was determined to take every action to ensure a continuance of maritime services, and would use every power to prosecute people who interfered. Mr Bruce referred to a motion carried by trie Sydney Labour Council that it would support the South Australian strikers and would urge drastic action in connection with the Transport Workers’ Act. Mr Bruce says that the action of the Labour Council was a direct incentive to defy the law just passed by representatives of the people in the Parliament of the Commonwealth.. Action of this kind should bring realisation to- the whole people of Australia of how necessary it was that his Governmeiit should have taken every step to ensure the law of the land should be obeyed, and. the authority of Parliament maintained. A statement- issued by the Shipown ers’ Association says: “Mob law or. Adelaide waterfront is merely an exaggeration of conditions under which shipowners have been carrying on tlieii industry for years past. The same brute force tactics, applied as domestic rules, have wrested ruinous concessions under bitter protest from ownerswho were reluctant to tie up Austra - lian and oversea shipping: The rioter: misjudged the spirit of the volunteers and the owners if they believed trial violence would achieve any purpose but a strengthening of the determination to see the thing through.” The waterfront at Sydney is quiet Several vessels that were loaded h* volunteer labour at other ports are he ing loaded by unionists here.

ANOTHER STRUCGLE. AT PORT ADELAIDE. . ADELAIDE, September 28: Following the disturbances on tlv wharves, the Premier, Air Butler, ha: issued a- proclamation that a state o J national crisis exists. There were further disturbances today. Two thousand of the watersider; came into conflict with the police when they attempted -again to marcl to the wharves. The police were ir strong force. They drew their batons and after a, struggle in which many o’ the strikers were injured, the polio prevented the watersiders from cross ing Robinson’s Bridge en route to th wharves.

The strikers returned to the attack and by force of numbers they thrust the police aside, and then swarmed across the, bridge. The police were strongly reinforced, and finally the' dispersed the rioters.

Many volunteers were sworn in to day as special constables.

ARMED SPECIAL CONSTABLES. FORCE OF FIVE THOUSAND. ADELAIDE, September 28. Immediately after the Premier’s proclamation declaring that a state ol national crisis existed, five hundred men of the Essential Services Organisation, which has been formed with the object of opposing lawlessness, were sworn in as special constable, and were issued with rifles.

The special constables were then sent to the military parade grounds, and were drilled under former military officers. Detachments of the men were later sent to Port Adelaide. The whole waterfront is now quiet. No work is being carried out on any vessel. A number of volunteer workers were again enrolled, hut it. is not expected that work will he resumed before Monday. The Premier’s proclamation states that arrangements have been made for work on the waterfront to be resumed on Monday. Meanwhile the police force of South Australia has been augmented to provide necessary protection to ensure safety for all persons loading or unloading ships or otherwise engaged in the transport service. The Government has accepted an offer made by the Essential Services Maintenance Association, whose members are requested to report immediately. The Commonwealth Government’s scheme for the registration of all workers will be inaugurated on Mon-

day, and the Government will call upon all persons willing to assist in a time of national crisis to offer their services immedaitely. Tbe issue is mob rule or constitutional government. Tbe Government. with all the force at its command, will see that tbe rights of citizens are upliqld. There is no excuse for the action of the strikers, who openly defied the law and. so lorfeited sympathy.