OWNERS PROPOSE MAKING TEST CASE OUT OF LOONGANA

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6630, 8 June 1928, Page 7

OWNERS PROPOSE MAKING TEST CASE OUT OF LOONGANA

Will Attempt to Run Vessel Without Cooks SUITABLE FOODS COOKED ASHORE ' Baited Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Eccoivcd Thursday, 10.40 p.m. SYDNEY, June 7. The Marine Stewards’ Union decided to call a meeting at Sydney of the transport group of Unions to discuss the strike position with a yiew to settlement. A Melbourne message states that the shipowners propose to make the Loon* gana a test ship to decide whether the other maritime Unions arc going to support the cooks' strike. On Tuesday next an effort will be made to man the Loongana without cooks, the owners supplying passengers with cold meats and other suitable foods cooked in Melbourne by strictly Union labour only, thus placing on the maritime Unions the onus of either accepting or rejecting engagement. The President of the Australasian Council of Trades Unions has issued a statement appealing to” the Arbitration Court to intervene in the cooks’ dispute. Isolating Tasmania. An earlier cable from Melbourne stated: The cooks have given 24 hours’ notice on the Loongana, which will cease running on Saturday. This involves the Union Steam Ship Company. The Oonah is due at Melbourne or Friday from Burnic, and it is believed that she will be drawn into the strike, and that entire communication between tho mainland and Tasmania will be severed forthwith. Mr, Tudehopo declared that ho is well aware of tho Prime Minister’s threat that he would maintain the Tasmanian services at all costs. It is reported from Canberra that developments are being closely watched by the Federal Ministry, which will not hesitate to take drastic action ts maintain essential services. Government May Act. In the House of Representatives tho Hon. S. Bruco stated that tho Government regarded tho position in tho shipping industry as grave and were considering -whether they would have to take action to maintain intcr-Statu services. Ship Turns Back. A message from Newcastle is to the effect When the steamer Chillagoo was several miles down the coast last night, the crew informed the captain that one cook had deserted at Newcastle. They demanded that the captain Immediately return to Newcastle. He did so, reaching there well after midnight. The vessel will be tied up indefinitely.