AUSTRALIAN SHIPPING

Otago Witness, Issue 3870, 15 May 1928, Page 30

AUSTRALIAN SHIPPING

THE COOKS’ DISPUTE. SEEKING A SETTLEMENT. MELBOURNE, May 9. The chairman of the Commonwealth Steamship Owners’ Association stated that the prospects for a settlement of the cooks’ dispute are not bright, as it was known that the Sydney branch had been instructed not to supply a butcher for the Kanowna, the whole crew of which will be paid off and the vessel laid up. The conference of maritime organisations and the Trades Hall Disputes Committee, after discussing the cooks’ dispute, _ referred the matter to the Australasian Council of Trades Unions. Further secret negotiations then took place, and it is considered likelv that the cooks will be instructed to resume woi k or alternatively not to extend the dispute and so give the council an opportunitv of intervening. NEW UNION TO BE FORMED. . SYDNEY, May 10i hollowing upon the decision of the shipowners to give the cooks till Monday to man the idle ships, otherwise they will discontinue employing members of the union and insist on the right of free selection of any man with good disC that a new union Win be formed embracing members of the Cooks Union and the Seamens’ Linen who are dissatisfied with the nresofficialsdUCt ° f their afTairs by A MEETING OF OWNERS. AIELBOURNE, May 10 ... A uv ee c. n ” of m em bers of the Common'eMth Steamship Owners’ Association completed plans for dealing with the cooks dispute. The closest secrecv is being observed, and no statement’ has >cen issuel, but it is generally believed that prospects of a settlement of the disof t e hp ai X r m r,Ot - e ? nd an “tension of the trouble is inevitable. ..The secretary of the Emergency Executi'C of thfi Australnn T'vnzl " T’* • Cnnmii x x y usrraj asian Iradts Unions F stated that it has been decided an "ter-State conference f 0 AJondav next of all unions likelv to he directly involved in the disputed ONE RESULT OF DISLOCATION, r™ r . x- SYDNEY, Alay 10. Tat” Rhi PPi*g between A .stralia and New Zealand, due to the cooks strike, is responsible for an incident unique in the history of G-afton North Coast) yesterday, when eigSSn ’‘‘f of mails from New Zealand for Australian States landed there. Alails are being despatched from New v n ea Tmn 0 n ? tra,ia by any available lessel. The Poolta. which makes pcriodiCal . i?\ brought this consignment, dated Auckland, Alay 2, which will be distributed to-day. ULTIMATUM BY OWNERS. . AIELBOURNE, Alay 11. It is officially announced that the ship owners decided yesterday-that the cooks bakers, and butchers be given till Alonday to engage on the terms of the recent award, but if the idle ships arc not manned the owners will discontinue employing members of the union on the terms and conditions of the suspended award. The owners, in any case, insist upon free selection, the total abandonment of the roster system, and upon the right to engage men with good discharges. AIEN ADHERE TO CLAIAI. . SYDNEY, Mav 11. The marine cooks, who are passively resisting, decline to make official statemerits and are resenting any other union’s intervention to settle their troubles. They insist that the only method of settlement will be for the shipowners to grant a conference to permit an agreement being drawn up to replace the suspended award. This conference has already been refused. The men adhere to their original claim that an additional man should be granted for the Uliniaroa’s gallev. It is expected that the Emergency Committee of the Trades Union Council " ill approach Air Justice Dethridge early next week with a request to reopen peace negotiations, Air Justice Dethridge having stated that he would ever be ready to act for that purpose. GENERAL HOLD-UP lAIPROEABLE. SYDNEY, Alay 11. The ■waterfront outlook at present is dull, but it js not regarded as hopeless. A few maritime or longshore workers welcome the idea of a general strike, but the disruption in the seamen’s ranks and the prevalence already of considerable unemployment are considered strong factors against a widespread hold-up. The action of the ship owners in postponing action till next week is regarded as a favourable augury that a way may yet bo found out of tne impasse. FUTURE AWARDS. AIELBOURNE, Alay 11. Air Justice Dethridge stated in the Arbitration Court to-day that he intended to insert an anti-strike clause in future awards, so that the court would have power to suspend any award in the event of unreasonable strikes, lock-outs, or job control.

THE CO' 1 • HEALTH LINE. NDON, Alay 10. Sir Owen £ director of the Federal Steam ..avigation Company) arrived after a long stay on the Riviera. Interviewed, he said that it was too early to estimate the effect of the sale of the Commonwealth Line on Australian shipping. Nevertheless, he was satisfied that the price paid was reasonable. _ The line was now in good hands, better results could be expected. Ihe line should now be conducted without friction and without imposing any more hardship upon the people of the Commonwealth than under the previous ownership. State ownership of shipping had repeatedly proved a mistake. CONFERENCE OF UNIONS TO-DAY. AIELBOURNE, May 12. It is authoritatively learned that the Marine Cooks’ Union will not be represented at the conference of maritime unions on Monday. Efforts by the ship owners to introduce volunteer cooks will precipitate a general strike say officials of the Seamen’s Union. TIME GIVEN TO MAN SHIPS. SYDNEY, May 13. For the first time since the marine cooks’ trouble began has a move towards a settlement been attempted. The union representative, Mr Tudehope, to-day telegraphed to the ship owners asking them to extend till Wednesday the time given in which the cocks can man the ships. The owners refused the request, and interstate importers and others point out that the men have been given great latitude. The patience of busings men has been exhausted, and some consider that the ship owners have not been firm enough.