PORTS BEING WORKED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20058, 22 September 1928, Page 13

PORTS BEING WORKED

STRIKERS SURRENDERING. PLENTY OF FREE LABOUR. SOME UNIONS OBDURATE. BRISBANE MEN DEFIANT. VOLUNTEERS WORK WELL. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received September 21, 0.35 p.m.) SYDNEY. Sept. 21 The waterside workers' strike has ended nt. Newcastle, the men deciding to-day by a small majority to accept the terms of the new award. Previously volunteer workers on the wharves at Newcastle bad established a record in wool loading. They placed 120 bales on board a vessel in an hour, whereas the customary rate is 70 an hour. In addition to Newcastle, members of the Waterside Workers' Federation are' now working again at Sydney, Cairns, Townsville, Port Kcmbla, Port Augusta, Port Pirie, Albany, and Tasmanian ports. Melbourne Workers Numerous. Two thousand men attended the call for free labour at the Melbourne Bureau at 1 p.m. to-day. A section outside the crowd sang " Tho Red Flag " and jeered at the men who had responded readily enough to (he call. There was no difficulty in securing the number required. Tho presence of policemen had a cooling effect on the demonstrators. The watersido workers at Adelaide maintain their attitude and are refusing to work under the new award. Free labourers were taken under police guard to work the Jervis Boy at Port Adelaide. The crews of two tugs were paid off at that port owing to their refusal to work steamers which had been loaded by volunteer labour. The liner Orama resumed her voyage to London without cargo from Port Adelaide. Priction at Queensland Ports. In parts of Queensland tho deadlock continues. At Brisbane tho waterside workers to-day defied tiio executive oi their union, who appealed to them to resume work under the new award. A mass meeting of the men decided not to accept work. As a result free labour is now being enrolled. .Sugar growers have arrived at Bowen in largo numbers to load ships at that port, which is alive with activity. The Orsova did not call at Fremantle jmd arrived at Albany to-day. There the wharf labourers began to work and unloaded her cargo. At Perth the wool sales were postponed owing to the strike. PROTECTING WORKERS. DRASTIC NEW MEASURE. DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT. (Received September 22, 12..35 a.m.) CANBERRA, Sept, 21. The introduction of the Transport Workers' Bill in the House of Representatives to-day was the signal for an outbreak of interruptions from the Opposition benches during the explanation of its provisions by the Prime Minister, -Mr. Bruce. He said it provided for the registration of all transport workers and for their protection while they were engaged in their work; also for the continued employment of those workers after a strike. Another clause was designed to prohibit the employment of anyone in the transport industry unless he is registered. "It is the most drastic industrial measure introduced in the Federal Parliament for years," said Mr. Bruce. "The interruptions of transport by waterside workers or seamen in the past 10 years have made Australia a by-word. Great financial loss is already accruing to the country as a result of the present industrial trouble. The Government does not intend that there should be any victimisation." The Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. J. H. Scullin, said he had stood by arbitration and the observance of awards. He still did so. He had tried to bring about peace, but his efforts had been frustrated by the Government. He said he regretted that the men had not obeyed their executives, but this bill would not help matters. Really it would inaugurate. industrial martial law. The debate is proceeding.