DEADLOCK IN SHIPPING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19947, 16 May 1928, Page 11

DEADLOCK IN SHIPPING.

SEQUEL TO COOKS' STRIKE. OWNERS TIE UP VESSELS. DISMISSAL OF THE. CREWS. FIGHT AGAINST JOB CONTROL.

(Received May 15. 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 15. Owing to the failure of the marine cooks to .man the eight idle Huddart-Parker vessels the shipowners have taken the extreme course of laying up four additional vessels. Twenty-four hours' notice of dismissal has been given to the crews of the following vessels :—The Karoola and Ulooloo, both at Sydney, and the Bombala and Lowana, both at Melbourne.

A significant fact is that the principal members of the Inter-State Shipowners' Federation are concerned in this latest move. The Australian United Steamship Navigation Company also became involved when the Kanowna was held up. The general belief is that the shipowners intend to take up the gauntlet and fight the cooks on the question of job control. The Marama, the Maunganui and the Kapoi, which are on New Zealand articles, are not thought likely to be drawn into the conflict, and the Union Company's other vessels, the Ngakuta and the Ngatoro, which are due to leave Sydney to-day, are on Australian articles and so far have not been affected. No official reason has been given by the shipowners for their action beyond the statement that it accords with their ultimatum, and that they are being forced to lay up fheir steamers owing to the uncertain position on the waterfront.

A message from Melbourne says the conference of the Australian Council of Trades Unions yesterday was adjourned until Wednesday at the request of the Federal secretary of the Cooks' Union, Mr. Tudehope, who arrived in Sydney from Brisbane yesterday and haS left for Melbourne.

UNIONS NONPLUSSED. UNEMPLOYMENT INCREASED. EFFORTS TO SETTLE DISPUTE. (Received. May 15, 9.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 15. It transpires that the drastic action of the shipowners in giving notice of dismissal to tho crews of four vessels was taken with the object of bringing the cooks' strike to a head. The owners are working on a plan which they aro keeping strictly secret, but (hero is little doubt that the lying up of these ships is only a prelude to further action. The campaign is being directed from Melbourne. So far it has resulted in rendering idle 300 men. Developments within the next 24 hours will determine whether the country is to he faced with a crisis similar to that caused by the 1917 strike, or whether the cooks' strike will come to an abrupt end. The latest move by the owners is looked upon by the other unions with grave concern as already the unemployment position is very bad. There are now 14 steamers idle as a result of the cooks' strike.

An amazing situation has arisen at Melbourne in connection with the efforts of the union leaders to settle the dispute. Although the Australian Council of Trades Unions has fixed its adjourned meeting for to-morrow the Waterside Workers' Federation to-day summoned a maritime conference of its own for the same day and hour to deal with the dispute. It is now stated that Mr. Tudehope will attend the watersiders' conference, although he is expected at the other.

Notwithstanding the now divided efforts of the unions to arrive at a settlement it is believed that as an outcome of the two conferences to-morrow the cooks will be asked to resume work.

A meeting of marine stewards was held in Sydney to-day to discuss the position, and also the sale of the Commonwealth Line ships as it was reported that the crews of that line were to be paid off by the owners on their arrival at London and replaced by lower paid crews. It, is said that the Australian crews are to be repatriated. No representative of the Cooks' Union attended the meeting.