AUSTRALIAN STRIKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18888, 10 December 1924, Page 11

AUSTRALIAN STRIKE.

A COMPLEX POSITION.

OVERSEA VESSELS HINDERED.

BOTH SIDES DETERMINED.

[FROM OUR, OWN CORRESPONDENT.] SYDNEY. Dec. 3. The waterfront strikes are more complicated than ever, but there is an encouraging aspect in the continued reluctance which is being displayed by the trolly and draymen to being involved. The effect of their joining the strikers would be to isolate all ships that the watersiders declared "black," and strong efforts havo been made to effect this formidable alliance, but so far without success.

The fight is largely directed against oversea vessels, for the reason that they are the principal users of what is known as bureau labour, i.e., labour engaged through the shipping bureau formed in Sydney as a result of the big strike in 1917. The inter-State companies do not use labour from the bureau, and for that reason the original overtime strike was modified so as not to affect them or any other ships that engaged union labour.

The restriction of the scope of the strike was followed by more determined measures against those ships that were affected by the dispute, the object being not merely to hamper them by a cessation of overtime work, but to effect their complete hold up. Although the bureau labour question affects only Sydney, the chief measures against the ships in question are necessarily being taken at the other ports, where there is no bureau labour, thus leaving the ships entirely at the mercy of the unionists. Hence one of the principal centres of activity is at Fremantle, the first port of call for many oversea ships. During the past week the unionists at Perth have boycotted the ships of companies that use bureau labour in Sydney, even refusing to man the tugs reauired to bring them into the port. This has resulted in some lively scenes. To combat the unionists some of tho big ships have been sending their own boats ashore to bring off a pilot, and have then reached .their berths under their own steam. Against this the unionists have organised pickets, which have gone to the length of threatening to throw into the harbour any pilot who attempted to got off to a ship. One pilot was stopped just as he was about to step into a boat. On another occasion one of the steamers had succeeded in reaching the berth, but the unionists on tho wharf threw the ropes into tho water, preventing her from making fast, and she put out into the harbour again. There is much anxiety as to the effect of the trouble on the wool trade. Record prices are being obtained, but it is feared ; that if the trouble is protracted and ship- 1 ments are seriously delayed, prices are sure to fall. The matter is to como before the Federal Arbitration Court again, and strong hopes are entertained. that both sides will make concessions that will result in a settlement.