COOKS’ DISPUTE

Southland Times, Issue 20496, 26 May 1928, Page 7

COOKS’ DISPUTE

HAGGLING PROCEEDS SECRETARY SCORNS INVITATION TRADES HALL COUNCIL’S MEETING (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) Melbourne, May 24. Mr Tudehope, secretary of the Marine Cooks’ Union, has reached Melbourne again. At a meeting of the Trades Hall Council last night the following letter in reply to an invitation to Mr Tudehope to attend was read: “I respectfully desire to inform you that I am at present engaged in negotiating for a settlement of the cooks’ dispute. I feel it would be inadvisable for me to take part in your proceedings.” Mr Tudehope, however, was a listener in the visitors’ gallery. Industrial officers of the various shipping companies are at present conferring as to the number and quality of volunteer labour offering, so that in the event of the strike continuing a definite move will be made on an appointed date to man the ships with free labour. Union officials do not treat this threat seriously.—Australian Press Association. LABOUR COUNCIL’S SUPPORT. Sydney, May 25. The Labour Council of Sydney carried a resolution supporting the cooks’ strike.— Australian Press Association. CONFERENCE WITH WATERSIDERS. EXTENSION OF DISPUTE PORTENDED. ONUS LEFT WITH OWNERS. (Rec. 9.5 p.m.) Melbourne, May 25. Although merchants and exporters arc anxious about their idle cargoes and heavy losses they are not making any more at present to apply to the Federal Government for a suspension of the Navigation Act to relieve the position as all sections desire a settlement of the cooks’ dispute without resorting to extreme measures. Mr Tudehope conferred with the Waterside Workers’ Federation and a policy for the conduct of the dispute was decided on. It includes putting the onus on the owners of refusing a conference with the cooks and watersiders, which organizations now claim to be managing the dispute. If, as expected, the shipowners refuse to grant a conference, the watersiders and cooks will leave it to the owners to directly extend the dispute and. if more vessels are tied up or the dispute is not settled within the next few days the watersiders will throw in their lot with the cooks, thus directly extending the strike throughout Australia and putting the onus on other maritime unions of joining in the strike. Unless the dispute is settled in the meantime all inter State passenger steamers, with the exception of those running between Melbourne and Tasmania, will be rendered idle next week.—Australian Press Association. NEGOTIATIONS OPEN. (Rec. 11.20 p.m.) Melbourne, May 25. Secret negotiations between the cooks and shipowners have commenced. Union officials state that the conference will probably result in the resumption of work next week. —Australian Press Association.