SHIPOWNERS STAND FIRM.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18467, 19 May 1928, Page 1

SHIPOWNERS STAND FIRM.

WILL CONSIDER REQUEST FOR A CONFERENCE IF STRIKERS MAKE ONE. (United Press Assn. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received May 19, 9.55 a.m.) SYDNEY, May 19. The Howard Smith collier Eva will be tied up to-day and the crew of thirty-eight dismissed, due to the cooks’ strike. Mr J. Tudehope. General Secretary of the Cooks’ Union, returns to Sydney to-day and will attend a meeting of his union to report on the latest developments in Melbourne. Mr C. Crofts, chairman of the Australasian Council of Trades Unions, had an informal . interview with Mr W. Appleton, chairman of the Shipowners’ Federation, upon the latter’s return from Sydney. Mr Crofts sought to reopen negotiations for a settlement. Mr Appleton replied that the fact that the unions had come to some sort of an agreement among themselves seemed by them to be regarded as a settlement of a strike, but the owners had not consulted.

lie reminded Mr Crofts that lluddartParker's had already lost £IOO,OOO. which was irrecoverable, whatever settlement were reached. The terms upon which the owners were prepared to settle had already been set forth and would be insisted on. The owners demanded the abolition of the roster System and declined to give a guarantee of employment to members of the Cooks’ Union under the conditions of the suspended award. If Mr Crofts would make a formal request for a conference with the shipowners he would p’ace their application before them on Monday. Beyond that he would say nothing.—Australian Press Association. STRIKERS EXPRESS CONFIDENCE IN CHIEF. (United Press Assn.—By Electrlo Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received Mav 19, 10.35 a.m.) MELBOURNE, May 19. Air Tudehope, before leaving for Sydney, addressed a mass meeting of cooks, tracing the history of the dispute. Subsequently he said he still insisted on an extra man for the Ulimaroa’s galley. The meeting unanimously passed a resolution of confidence in Mr Tudehope.—Australian Press Association. SEAMEN’S SECRETARY FINED £250; INCITED WATERSIDERS TO STRIKE (United Press Assn.—By TMectrlu Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received May 19. 11.30 a.m.) BRISBANE, May 19. Andrew Brown, secretary of the local branch of the Seamen's Union, was fined £250. in default six months’ gaol, under the Commonwealth Crimes Act, for inciting wharf labourers not to coal the lighthouse steamers, which were recently involved in a strike.—Australian Press Association.