THE OVERTIME STRIKE

Southland Times, Issue 19395, 8 November 1924, Page 5

THE OVERTIME STRIKE

COMPULSORY CONFERENCE REQUEST RY THE SHIP-OWNERS ANOTHER STEAMER LAID UP. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) tAustralian and N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, November 7. (Received December 7, 11 p.m.) Later developments in the waterside trouble is that the Moreton Bay’s crew has received twenty-four hours’ notice. The Company will lay the vessel up until a binding agreement with the dissatisfied Unions is reached. MELBOURNE, November 7. The Austraasian Steamship Owners’ Federation has decided to ask the President of the Arbitration Court to summon a compulsory conference in connection with the Overtime strike. FAR REACHING DECISION. COMMONWEALTH STEAMERS TO REGISTER IN LONDON. RESULT OF IRRITATION STRIKES. GLOOMY OUTLOOK FOR LONG STRUGGLE. SYDNEY, November 7. (Received November 8, 1.5 am.) A decision of outstanding importance and one likely to have far reaching future results is reported to have been made by the Commonwealth Line which has decided that steps be taken to remove all its steamers from the Australian Register and register them as British vessels. The decision is alleged to be the outcome of the innumerable irritation strikes in Australia which has placed the line at a great disadvantage and resulted in tremendous aggregate losses. The decision will mean that the whole fleet can be manned under British conditions. When the report was referred to Mr S. M. Bruce (Federal Premier) he would neither confirm or deny it. Earlier information stated that notice had been given in the London Gazette on October 14 that after 40 days, it was proposed to submit to his Majesty-in-Council an order under the Merchants Shipping Act for the registration as British steamers of the vessels beloging to the Comomnwealth Government. There is no outstanding change in respect to the Overtime Strike, although further delays have occurred to inter-State steamers. If these delays continue, the steamers will be laid up and the crews paid off. The Moreton Bay and Ferndale are still hung up. A protracted dispute is expected.