SEA COOKS’ STRIKE PROSPECTS BLACK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18468, 21 May 1928, Page 10

SEA COOKS’ STRIKE PROSPECTS BLACK.

NO SIGN OF END YET TO BE SEEN. (United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph,—Copyright.) MELBOURNE, May 20. Mr W. Appleton, chairman of the Commonwealth Steamship Owners’ Association, states that he sees no prospect of a settlement of the cooks’ dispute. The owners are now more determined than ever to stand firm. They insist on the abolition of job control and of the roster system before making any move to recommission the idle vessels. It is stated that if the Australasian Council of Trades Unions asks the owners for a conference the latter will question its authority to act, and will point out that conferences will be a waste of time unless the representatives are able to prove that they are in a position to control the cooks. It is estimated that by Monday the strike will have cost £500,000. The emergency executive of the Australasian Council of Trades Unions and the committee of the maritime unions have decided that the Australasian Council of Trades .Unions be empowered immediately to seek a conference with the owners, and that the cooks be invited to attend the conference and participate in all • future negotiations. The effect of the motion will be to put the cooks in a position either of accepting or rejecting mediation by the Australasian Council of Trades Unions, to which the maritime unions claim the dispute has now been officially referred.—Australian Press Association.

SECRETARY OBJECTS TO INTERFERENCE IN C O O K S’ BUSINESS.

SYDNEY, May 20. The marine cooks did not hold the meeting which was called by Mr Jock Garden, secretary of the Trades and Labour Council. Mr J. Tudehope, Federal secretary of the Cooks’ Union, stated that everyone seemed to be trying to run the cooks’ business. He was secretary of the union and would not hold the meeting.—Australian Press Association.