COOKS’ STRIKE

Southland Times, Issue 20495, 25 May 1928, Page 7

COOKS’ STRIKE

ATTITUDE OF RANK AND FILE. A “MUSSOLINI-LIKE EXECUTIVE.” Sydney, May 24. The shipowners are watching closely the trend of events in the Cooks’ strike and if the strike extends immediate steps will be taken to organize means whereby essential services can be maintained with protection from the Federal Government and the civil and military forces. The fear was expressed overnight that the Aorangi, due to-day, which is on Australian articles, will become involved but the owners have given an assurance that no such action is intended by the owners. The chief cook of the idle Karoola states that the rank and file of the Cooks’ Union have already rejected the roster system, the ballot having been held, and the men are now objecting to their own Mussolinilike executive. —Australian Press Association. COASTAL CLAUSES OF ACT. (Rec. 7.40 p.m.) Canberra, May 24. In the House of Representatives Dr. Earle Page, in reply to a question, said that if a request were made by proper persons for a temporary suspension of the coastal clauses of the Navigation Act in view of the stoppage of shipping activities caused by the marine cooks’ strike the Government would give due consideration to it.—Australian Press Association. CONTROL OF THE STRIKE. (Rec. 7.40 p.m.) Melbourne, May 24. A meeting of the Australasian Council of Trades Unions and Maritime Union officials decided to ask the Trades Hall Councils throughout Australia to decide whether the Australasian Council of Trades Unions is to continue control of the cooks’ dispute with the authority of the rest of the industrial movement, or whether the cooks are to be allowed to defy the whole industrial movement.—Australian Press Association. NO SIGN OF SETTLEMENT. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, May 24. In the marine cooks’ dispute there is still no sign of a settlement at the end of eleven weeks since the Ulimaroa was held up. Business men urge an increase in the cargo fleets in order to meet trading needs.—Australian Press Association. SUPPORT FOR THE COOKS. DECISION OF WATERSIDERS. AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT. (Rec. 10.20 p.m.) Melbourne, May 24. The Waterside Workers’ Federation has informed the Australasian Council of Trades Unions that it is standing behind Mr Tudehope and the Cooks’ Union in the latter’s dispute with the owners. The decision will have far-reaching effects on the waterfront and may develop into the biggest union split in the industrial history of Australia. The decision was reached following an interview between Mr Tudehope and the management committee of the federation, and means that the watersiders and cooks are ranged together against the Australasian Council of Trades Unions and the whole of the other Maritime Unions.—Australian Press Association.