AUSTRALIAN SHIPPING PARALYSED.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XX, Issue 2066, 13 January 1925, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN SHIPPING PARALYSED.

Latest Cables.

FEDERAL MINISTRY ACTS. STATEMENT BY PREMIER. Press Association. —Copyright. (Received 10.45 a.m.) Sydney, this day. In the Arbitration Court, Mr Justice Powers, after fixing the picking-up place at the mercantile offices, refused to fix the hours for picking up. Because of this refusal the owners sought to have their application withdrawn, but this Mr Justice Powers refused. Immediately the judgment was delivered, Mr Russell Martin, on behalf of the Commonwealth Government, asked that the Registrar of the Court be directed to apply for the de-regis-tration of the Seamen's Union and the cancellation of the existing award. He said the Commonwealth felt it was compelled to come to the Court with this application for the protection of the public.

Mr Justice Powers said he did not think the Court had any authority to direct the Registrar in the matter. Referring to the matter, the Premier, Mr Bruce, said: "The paralysis of the shipping trade has reached a crisis, which necessitates definite action by the Federal Ministry. The Ministry was reluctant to intervene so long as negotiations were proceeding between the parties, and it seemed, reasonable to hope for a settlement being arrived at and the services restored by this means. This now seems impossible, and the strike is being carried out in defiance of the arbitration law, without regard to the sufferings inflicted on the workers and their families. The case of Tasmania was specially criticised. The Seamen's Union will give no undertaking that direct action will cease, and by its failure to do so has declared war on the whole community, on the Arbitration Court, and on the arbitration law. In such circumstances the Ministry has no alternative but to take action. The Ministry realises that for the arbitration law to function properly unionism is essential, but unionism must realise its duty to the arbitration law. The unions of Australia in general do this, but the Seamen's Union, by its action, declaims itself an outlaw from trade unionism as the ;othei( trade unions understand that principle."

The steamers Matatua and Medic are also affected as a result of the employment of men from the Returned Soldiers' Labour Exchange, but it is expected that all the vessels will be worked to-day by men from the exchange. The position now assumes the same aspect as before the Melbourne settlement.

The members of the Watersiders' Federation state that irritation tactics will be maintained so long as the exchange remains open.