NO PREFERENCE FOR UNIONISTS AT PORTS WHERE STRIKE IS ON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18575, 25 September 1928, Page 4

NO PREFERENCE FOR UNIONISTS AT PORTS WHERE STRIKE IS ON.

JUDGE DETHRIDGE SUSPENDS CLAUSE IN WATERSIDE AWARD. (United Press Assn By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) MELBOURNE, September 24. On tne application ot the Shipowners’ Association Judge Dethriclge, in the Federal Arbitration Court, suspended the preference clause of the waterside workers’ award in ports where unionists had refused to work. He, however, refused to suspend the award in ports where union members are still working. Ihe suspension applies to Fremantle, Adelaide, Port Kembla, Newcastle, Brisbane, Mackay, Bowen and Port Phillip. The Judge deferred his decision in the case of ports where the position of members is in doubt. He refused to vary the award, stating that Judge Beeby could later consider any application for variation. He added that, without putting an end to the award, he would cancel the preference clause, but where members of the federation were working he did not feel inclined to extend the suspension. Five overseas vessels' at Melbourne are now being worked by means of volunteer labour. The volunteers are brought to the docks in motor-cars, under police protection, but no trouble has been experienced. Inter-State vessels are being worked as usual by unionists. t Conditions on the waterfront at Sydney to-day were normal. All labour needs were supplied. There were disorderly scenes on the Brisbane wharves during the week-end. Stones were thrown and two volunteers were injured. About 600 volunteers have enrolled at Brisbane and thirteen steamers are being worked. The local unionists have formed their own strike executive and have taken the dispute out of the hands of their officials.—Australian Press Association.