COOKS’ REQUEST

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 135, 8 May 1928, Page 7

COOKS’ REQUEST

OWNERS DECLINE CONFERENCE. ‘ 'CONFOUNDED IN PERTINENCE.” OPINION OF HUDDART-PAEKER MANAGER. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Received May 8, 9-50 a.in. SYDNEY, May 8.

The Federal secretary of the Marine Cooks’ Union, Mr Tudehope, has gone to Brisbane and several days will elapse before a reply to the shipowners’ letter stating that no conference would be granted while direct action was persisted in can bo formulated.

Mr G. Moate, general president of the union, met the Disputes Committee at the Trades Hall at Melbourne and arranged a meeting of representatives of all maritime unions in. Melbourne on Wednesday. The Disputes Committee is anxious to prevent a serious upheaval.

VOLUNTEERS OFFERING

NO CALLS IN THE MEANTIME. Received Mav 8, 9.50 a.m. MELBOURNE, May 8. Commenting on the request of the Cooks’ Union for a conference, Mr \V. Appleton, chairman of the Huddartlsarker Company, said that he had never heard of such “confounded impertinence.” While the union defied the courts’ authority the owners would give no guarantees in writing, other than contained in their, telegraphed reply, that the conditions of the suspended award would continue to operate. If the cooks manned the vessel the cooks could apply to court to have the suspended award restored. Pending a reply from the union no calls for cooks would bo.made. Mr Appleton added that he had already received a number of applications from volunteer cooks.

UNTIL WEDNESDAY'.

OWNERS WILL THEN ACT,

MELBOURNE, May 7. At a special meeting of the Commonwealth Steamship Owners’ Association a letter was received from the general secretary of the Marine Cooks’ Union, Sydney, asking for a conference to make an agreement to replace the award which has just been cancelled. The Owners’ Association decided to advise the union that no conference would be granted while direct action was persisted in, and that the owners had decided to give the union until Wednesday next to man all the vessels when required, otherwise the owners would* take whatever steps they consider necessary. Officials of the Australian Council of Trades Unions are now endeavouring to open negotiations with the steamship owners for a settlement of the dispute. SOVIET INFLUENCE BLAMED. CANBERRA, May 7. Allegations that the frequent cations of the shipping services are inspired by Soviet influence are quoted in the Federal Parliamentary Country Party Bulletin, whiclr states that the council of the unions turns a deaf ear to the words of the South Australian seamen’s secretary, who is convinced that the Soviet has begun operations in Australia to cause frequent dislocations in the maritime services, so that the Soviet can get trade instead.

It is alleged that the Soviet has put in hand arrangements for holding a Red Pacific Unions’ Conference in Australia next year.