LABOUR MATTERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18286, 23 December 1919, Page 7

LABOUR MATTERS.

ENGINEERS’ DISPUTE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. SYDNEY, December 22. Five engineers on the steamer St Albans were charged with_ breaches of the Merchant Shipping Act’ by refusing to proceed to sea. The cases were adjourned till December 23, the men deciding to work the ship, as the owners stated that •in that event they would withdraw the prosecutions and confer with the Institute of Engineers with a view to reaching a settlement on Monday next. > BRISBANE, December 22. A deadlock has been reached in the negotiations iHth the marine engineers. LITTLE HOPE OF SETTLEMENT. (Received December 22, 10.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, December 22. The engineers’ strike has spread to additional vessels, and four Island steamers are affected- There is little hope of a settlement. CREWS PAID OFF. (Received December 23, 1.20 a.m.) SYDNEY, December 22. A Commonwealth ballot of marine engineers decided not to accept the Shipping Controller’s terms. The men accordingly will not resume work. Tn© stnko is spreading and the Rivorina and 1 other crews have been paid off. POSITION IN VICTORIA. (Received December 22, 10.5 p.m.) MELBOURNE, December 22. Although tho Victorian branch of the Marine Engineers’ Institute notified the shipowners that the men would rejoin the idle vessels to-day, the expected settlement, owing to tho notion taken in the other States, has not yet been reached. The Union Company has indefinitely postponed the sailings of the Zoongana, ltotoniahana ana Wainui for Tasmania. • Tho position is aggravated by the cooks and pantrymen leaving the vessels on learning that their executive had rejected tho owners’ proposals. ANOTHER STRIKE. SYDNEY, December 22. The employees at tho electrolytic works at Port Kembla struck for increased wages. Four hundred are idle.