LABOUR IN AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 22

LABOUR IN AUSTRALIA.

BOYCOTT OF STEAMERS. May If) A mass meeting of the Federated Seamen’s Union of Australia decided to extend its boycott to the whole of the vessels of the MTlwraith, M’Eaehsarn Line. Eight steamers will be thrown idle. Representatives of other maritime unions attended to urge a settlement of the dispute on account of the numbers of their men involved; but they were refused a hearing. It is understood that the MTlwraith, M'Eachearn Line will shortly . cite the Seamen’s Union in the Commonwealth Arbitration Coui’t, with a view to securing the deregistration of the union. WORK FCII UNEMPLOYED. SYDNEY, May 15. The New South Wales State Cabinet has decided to vote £20,000 for the purpose of providing productive work for the relief of the unemployed. TT3E PORT LYTTELTON CASE. SYDNEY, May 15. The hearing has commenced of the tharges of alleged conspiracy against the union officials. Captain Hollis, marine superintendent of the Commonwealth Dominion Line, gave evidence that he had received a message from the captain of the Port Lyttelton at Launceston stating that the crew refused to take the vessel to sea unless

they received a bonus of £2O, as they claimed the ship was unseaw T orthy. Witness later attended a meeting of dock officials and members of the transport group at Cockatoo Island, and related the owners’ side of the dispute in connection with the Port Lyttelton and -the Port Curtis, at which Heffron, speaking for the transport group, said he would not touch the ships until the men of the Port Curtis were released and the warrants against the men of the Port Lyttelton were withdrawn. Cross-examined, Captain Hollis said that after the Port Lyttelton went aground at Launceston in January they put to sea in the vessel, which was making 100 tons of water per hour, but claimed that the vessel was seaworthy. At a meeting at Cockatoo Island witness asked Falkingham whether the men had agreed to take the Port Lyttelton to sea for a bonus of £2O. Falkingham replied by asking whether witness had not known cases of men taking coffin ships to sea for a considerable increase in pay. PUBLIC SERVANTS’ GRIEVANCES. MELBOURNE, May 16. The question whether public servants are entitled to register under the Arbitration Act came before Mr Justice Powers in the Arbitration Court. Victoria and New South Wales are the only States opposing registration. Mr Justice Powers said it was a matter of great importance, and the High Court should be asked to give an opinion.

TRAMWAYMKX\S DISPUTE. MELBOURNE, May 16. In the Arbitration Court Mr Justice Powers ordered the traimvaymen to return to work by Monday next, and has ordered the Tramway Board to consider an application from Gripman Howard for reinstatement. May 18. The tramway employees have accepted the court’s decision. A full service will be resumed on Monday. The direct loss to the Tramway Board through the strike amounts to £22.000. OBVIATING STRIKES. MELBOURNE, May 18. The Commonwealth Steamship Owners’ Association is applying to the Arbitration Court for a variation of the existing award by making provision for the Seamen’s Union being responsible for the observance of the award by its branches and officers. The owners are also applying for the insertion of a clause providing that the union, during the term of the award, shall neither order nor encourage or aid any strike or job control.