AUSTRALIAN WATERSIDERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1926, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN WATERSIDERS.

When the Commonwealth Arbitration Court was recently strengthened by the appointment of three judges, chosen for their experience of industrial problems, the question was raised as to the powers of the court to make its awards respected by recalcitrant unions. The result of the referenda voting has continued to restrict the cases in which the Federal court can intervene to those industrial disputes which extend beyond the confines of one State, and the first of these of any moment is the present watersiders’ dispute. In regard to this the members of the union, allegedly by way of enforcing their demand for a prompt hearing of their claims by the Federal Arbitration Court, decided that no overtime would be worked by any member of their organisation. The inconvenience which this might cause the general community was entirely disregarded by the men’s leaders. A compulsory conference of employers and employees was ordered by the court, and the men were recommended to drop the ban upon overtime being worked whilst the court investigated their claim for higher wages. So far they have ignored the court’s suggestion, and have broken off the negotiations with the owners. What the court will do next is exercising the com. mercial community a good deal, for if its authority is to be flouted, then its extensive and expensive reorganisation is a waste of time and money. Meanwhile the inconvenience caused by the men’s action is being felt throughout the Commonwealth. Vessels are being laid up, cargoes are being only partially lifted, and the usual paralysis of commerce Is sure to follow irregularity in shipments. The outlook for Australia’s exportable produce in the Home markets is not over-bright, droughts have reduced its quantity very considerably, and it would be ha;d to conceive a more unfortunate moment in which to add an artificially created burden to those the producer has already to bear.