THREAT OF STRIKE

Southland Times, Issue 21178, 3 September 1930, Page 5

THREAT OF STRIKE

SEAMEN AT MELBOURNE WATERSIDERS REJECT PROPOSAL PROTECTION FOR VOLUNTEERS (United Press Assn —By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 9.15 p.m.) Melbourne, September 2.' The dispute on the Port Adelaide waterfront, owing to the action of the shipowners insisting on the employment of men who volunteered for' work at the time of the last watersiders’ strike, has spread to Melbourne, where seamen contend that the shipowners refuse to recognize their rights and rectify their grievances. The Seamen’s Union has asked the Watersiders’ Federation to join it in a general maritime strike for the redress of their combined grievances, suggesting that wheat and wool shipments should not be allowed to leave Australia. The executive of the Watersiders’ Federation, however, discountenances the strike, and has asked the Premier, Mr Hogan, for a round-table conference to deal with the trouble. A later message states that the Watersiders’ Federation to-day rejecte'd the general strike proposal. Its members, however, have been instructed not to work with the non-unionists. Efforts are to be made to induce the South Australian Government to mediate on behalf of fellow unionists in that State. Police protection was afforded free labourers on the South Melbourne wharves to-day in order to prevent a repetition of yesterday’s rioting. It had the desired effect, work on all vessels proceeding smoothly.