COMMONWEALTH LINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18130, 30 June 1922, Page 7

COMMONWEALTH LINE.

MR. HUGHES' THREAT.

FLEET MAY BE LAID UP.

DECISION WITH UNION. ' Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (P.acd. 5.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, June 29. Mr. W. M. Hughes threatens to lay up all the vessels of the Commonwealth Government Line unless the union officials agree to the management retaining con- ' trol. He states that the -unions must ' choose between industrial crucifixion in ] order to serve Mr. T. Walsh'a purpose and pander to -his insatiable vanity and } ambition, or sweep him and hisi like neck and crop out of the union. DISSENSION AMONG UNIONS • POSSIBILITY OF A BREACH. ' Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 10.10 p.m.) SYDNEY, Jim© 29. An important development has occurred in connection with the Largs Bay dispute. J Officials of what are generally considered j I the saner maritime organisations are I taking action to unite and declare that; there shall be no hitch if the Commonwealth Line attempts to introduce nonunion labour into the Largs Bay in the' deck and stokehold departments. The move has been kept a close secret and when approached union officials declined to discuss the matter, but they agreed that something must be done immediately. The general opinion ia that Mr. Hughes' j threat to lay up the ships is responsible for the move now afoot, as it is con- j sidered that the throwing idle of men ! employed by the Commonwealth Line would be one of the worst blows that ] could be dealt to unionism. H the projected move is executed the situation will be as unique as any that Australian unionism has brought about. After a meeting of marine stewards, at which tho Largs Bay dispute was| nob | considered, the secretary stated that the stewards would not work with nonunionists. Mr. Walsh has arrived. He denies that his visit is of any significance so far as the Largs Bay is concerned, or that there h any conflict of opinion between the, Sydney branch and the executive of the j

Seamen's Union.