NEWSPAPER STRIKE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25022, 12 October 1944, Page 6

NEWSPAPER STRIKE

WORK TO BE RESUMED DECISION BY COMMISSION (Rccd. 11.45 p.m.) ' SYDNEY, Oct. 11 The full bench of the Industrial Commission today ordered members of the Printing Industry Employees Union and the Amalgamated Printing Trades Union involved in the dispute with the proprietors of the four Sydney daily newspapers to return to work tomorrow under the conditions which operated prior to the start of the dispute. The order made it clear that no employee would be required to work on the composite newspaper. Members of the New South Wales branch of the Australian Journalists' Association were not parties to the dispute beforo the Commission, but they are expected to resume work with the printing employees. The composite paper will be on sale tomorrow morning, but all four dailies are expected to resume normal production tomorrow. Stoppage Illegally Caused The President of the Commission. Mr Justice Taylor, said in his view the stoppage on the Sun was illegally and wrongfully caused. The extension of the dispute to the other three papers was the responsibility of the proprietors. Mr Justice Cantor said the dispute should have been referred to the Industrial Commission and the men should have continued to work while the hearing was going on. The Federal Government might have to consider taking over the Sydney newspaper offices to provide the public with news, said the Minister of Information, Mr A. A. Cahvell. In a broadcast statement Mr Cahvell referred to the recent censorship dispute when the publication of Sydney papers was suspended by the authorities, and said: Mr Galwell's Argument "For the second time in six months the people of Sydney and large areas of New South Wales have been deprived of their daily newspapers by actions of the newspaper proprietors. The newspaper proprietors receive high priorities and preferential treatment in matters of manpower, newsprint and many other requirements on tho understanding that they will print newspapers to give the people the news about the war and about Australian domestic affairs. "When newspaper interests deliberately involve themselves in a dispute concerning other papers the Federal Government might have to consider the advisability of taking over those newspaper offices to give the people the news in the same way as it took over Coalcliffe Colliery in New South Wales to give the nation coal." Reply to Minister "Mr Calwell's statement is what anyone knowing Mr Calwell would expect," answered Air R A. Henderson, president of the Australian Newspaper Proprietors' Association. "It disregards all the facts and is merely the continuance of his vicious campaign against the newspapers. The facts in this dispute, which are unchallenged, are that the staff of the Sun struck in violation of the State industrial laws and the Commonwealth security regulations. Sydney newspapers, in recognition of their responsibilities, are endeavouring to supply the public with a news service and their efforts will not be helped by Mr Calwell, but neither will they be intimidated by any threats he may make. "Mr Calwell speaks for himself. He is not competent to speak for the Commonwealth Government on this matter any more than he was on the censorship dispute which was the result of his irresponsible mismanagement, and the settlement of which had to be taken out of his hands. The public will have no illusions of what would happen to the press of Australia if Mr Calwell and those like him were able to achieve their ambition and run the newspapers. A public opinion censored, regimented and informed by Mr Calwell would appear to be Mr Calwell's great ambition."