GOVERNMENT TAKES ACTION IN DISPUTE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6631, 9 June 1928, Page 7

GOVERNMENT TAKES ACTION IN DISPUTE

FEDERAL PROCLAMATION COOKS AS CRIMINALS UaiUd Free* A*K*!*tio»—By »!•**♦* Telegraph —Copyright. Received Friday 9.0 p.m. CANBERRA, June 8. It is understood that the Federal Government has at last taken decisive action against the maritime cooks. It is semi-officially stated that a proclamation will be issued under the Crimes Act making it an offence punishable with one year’s imprisonment to participate or encourage an offence in connection with this Act. The Prime Minister, Mr S. Bruce, <n the House of Representatives, when questioned would neither affirm nor deny that any action had been taken. An earlier message stated: The Western Australian and South Australian Governments are requesting the Commonwealth Government to suspend the Navigation Act in order to enable overseas vessels to carry passengers and cargo round the Australian coast during the cooks’ strike, which is proving disastrous, . The Prime Minister (Mr S. M. Bruce), in a statement, declared that the Government had already indicated that it recognised its obligations to maintain essential communications. The Government had so far refrained from taking action in the hope that the Australian Trades Union Council would be able to discipline the union responsible. It had now become a question tor serious consideration whether the Government would bo obliged to take action almost immediately. MORAL CODE OF UNIONISM VIOLATED BY STRIKERS. Received Friday 10.30 p.m. MELBOURNE, June 8. An official statement issued by the President of the Australian Council of Trades Unions declares that the marine cooks violated the moral code of trades unionism in declining the intervention of the Council. The Council had no means of compelling the cooks to sub-j mit the dispute to it. The obligation now of finding ways and means of settlement rested on the Arbitration Court. In a final effort to avert Government intervention and to enable the man nine of vessels on the Tasmanian service, the secretary of the Victorian branch of the Seamen’s Union telegraphed Mr C. Tudehope urging him to allow cooks to man Tasmanian boats. It is understood the seamen will not man the Loongana to-morrow _on the terms proposed by the shipowners cabled yesterday.. Information from Canberra states that should the cooks to refuse to man ships to Tasmania the Federal Government proposes to issue a proclamation under the Crimes Act, which will enable it to take over vessels and maintain services to Tasmania. It is understood the owners arc prepared to hand over all vessels on the coast to the Government. Advices from Sydney state that a meeting of the Cooks’ Union decided to carry on the fight until tteir demands were granted.