MEDIATION EFFORT BY TRADES’ COUNCIL NOT APPRECIATED

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6617, 23 May 1928, Page 7

MEDIATION EFFORT BY TRADES’ COUNCIL NOT APPRECIATED

Tudehope RefractoryCooks' Dispute Alone

A CONFERENCE OF THEIR OWN WANTED

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Eeceived Tuesday, 8,5 p.m. SYDNEY, May 22.

Mr. J. Tudehope, general secretary of the Marino Cooks' Union, states that tho Union is now going to endeavour to convene a conference with owners to discuss proposed terms of settlement.

Mr. Tudehope strongly defended tho action of the cooks yesterday in refusing the mediation of the Australian and New Zealand Council of Trades Unions, stating that they do not recognise tho latter’s authority to intervene in the matter without tho consent of tho organisation directly concerned.

Ho added that the Union intended to notify owners that tho Australian and Now Zealand Council of Trades Unions was acting without tho authority of tho cooks and that the latter were now going to attempt to arrange a conference to discuss tho questiou of the abolition of tho 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 bo suspended. Negotiations Nugatory. A Melbourne message states that the conference betivcen the owners and tho Australian and New Zealand Council of Trades Unions, which the owners grunted yesterday, discussed tho position for an hour and a-half, but achieved nothing in tho direction of a settlement. Tho oivncrs stood firmly by their terms already announced. Meanwhile, hundreds of men, opposed to a strike, arc idle and helpless. The Trades Union Council is unable to obtain replies to its messages to Mr. Tudehope, tho cooks’ general secretary, who is recalcitrant. Ho declined to allow his Union to bo represented at tho conference with tho shipowners. Tho deputy-chairman of tho Commonwealth Steamship Owners’ Association, Mr. Elford, stated that there was a full and free discussion by the conference, and tho shipowners pointed out to tho Trades Union representatives that the offer they had made to the cooks lacked nothing they enjoyed under their former award. Mr. Jacob Johnson, secretary of tho Australian Seamen's Union, who has returned to Sydney, declared that the Council of Trades Unions were a, lot of bushrangers, and were taking part in tho dispute without the cooks’ authority, while some Melbourne officials appeared to be the willing tools of the shipowners. Will Make New Efforts.

Tho Melbourne report adds that despite tho fact that tho 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 tho owner*. If the cooks’ leaders continue to refuse to recognise the Council’s authority, the Council will conclude terms of settlement with the owners and take control of the dispute out of the cooks’ leaders hands.