TRADES HALL OPINION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 1 December 1927, Page 5

TRADES HALL OPINION

STRIKE WILL BE SHORT

FEAR OF FREE LABOUR

(Received Ist Dec., 10.45 a.m.) 'SYDNEY,. This Day. Officials at the Trades' Hall express the opinion that the strike will be short-lived, and will probably result in the leaders of the Watersiders’ Federation capitulating as the odds against the men are overwhelming. The men fear that if they continue to refuse to work overtime a call will bo made for free, laboiirj and with the present amount -of unemployment, the owners will experience no difficulty in securing volunteers to do the work. While the members of the Seamen’s Union would refuse to man inter-State vessels loaded by volunteers it is doubtful whether the crews of oversea ships would agree to support the strikers, 1 as the local wharf labourers re-fused to support them during the British seamen’s strike two years ago.

COMPARABLE TO 1917 STRIKE

(Received Ist Dec.. .1.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day

If the watersiders decide not to take advantage of the owners’ leniency in extending the period of the ultimatum to to-day, it is anticipated in wellinformed circles that a strike approaching the proportion of the 1917 dispute will result.