NO OVERTIME

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20012, 1 December 1927, Page 7

NO OVERTIME

the waterside strike AD Overseas Vessels Tied Up at Melbourne ; MEN WILL NOT SIGN ON DEADLOCK SEEMS INEVITABLE (By Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright.) Received Nov. 30. 10 p.m. .(A. & N.Z.) MELBOURNE, Nov. 30. Though, an. unofficial statement gained currency that the overtime strike had been postponed till after Christmas the watersiders are not working today. Several hundreds attended the morning pick-up, but in view of the shipowners’ ukase that they would no* take on men unless the latter agree*! to work overtime, none of those offering signed on. Vigilance officers of the Federation instructed the men already engaged for to-day to continue work on the conditions on which they were engaged, but to eease punctually at five o ’clockWork was continued on a few vessels but all overseas steamers, including the Maloja are now tied up. It is not known whether the Alaloja will remain at Melbourne or go on to Sydney, her terminal port. She has 2,000 tons of cargo for Melbourne and 3000 tons for Sydney. She landed 130 passengers here and has 160 for Sydney and New Zealand. Mr Swanson, spokesman for the Overseas Shipping Association, stated today that he placed little faith in the report that the strike would: be suspended till after Christmas. The information from the shipping companies officers who attended the morning pick-up was that the men had received definite instructions not to work overtime, and as this was one of the shipowners ’ stipulations, no wharf labourers offered their services. There is every possibility of the strike developing into a serious deadlock in the event of the absence of outside intervention. The emergency committee appointed by the Australian Council of Trades Unions has been advised to watch events, but further intervention by that body is unlikely, although should the ships be tied up as threatened, by the shipowners, widespread unemployment would result among members of many other unions which are linked with the council. It will then be essential for an outside organisation to step in, despite assurances given by the Watersiders’ Federation that it is capable of conducting its own disputes without outside interference.

THE TROUBLE AT SYDNEY AFTERNOON PICK-UP MEN EEFUSE WORK deceived Nov. 30, 11 p.m. (A- & N.Z.) SYDNEY, Nov. 30. Although warned before engagement that they were engaged untder award conditions, including overtime, the waterside workers started work this morning. An attempt in the afternoon however, to engage workers, failed, the men saying that eight o’clock in the morning was the time to engage them. It remains to be seen what developments will be, when the men arc wanted for overtime duty to-night. It is anticipated that the crisis will then develop. Mr Seale, secretary of the Sydney branch of the Waterside Workers’ Federation, confirmed the statement that j the watersiders had reached an agree- | men! with the Commonwealth Line to work overtime, and they were willing ; to make some agreement with the . inter-State companies which did not ■ possess any ulterior motives. Further overseas vessels got away today, some without completing loading. Sir William Clarkson, of the Commonwealth Shipping Board said to-day that the main bone of contention was the afternoon pick-up. That question did not concern the Commonwealth Line, as it did not require an afternoon pick-up and because the Line was not effected it had stood clear of the Shipowners ’ Association in the matter. Although inter-State shipping is greatly delayed, it is not anticipated that this will affect the departure of the Maunganui, Marama, and Makura. It is stated that if shipping at Newcastle is at a staMstill for more that a few days the majority of the northern coal mines will be compelled to close Maying more than 12,000 miners. AT OTHER PORTS NO WORK AT HOBART NEW ZEALAND LOADING DELAYED Received Nov. 30, 10.50 p m. (A. & N.Z.) HOBART, Nov. 30. Failing to give the undertaking required by the shipowners at the pickup this morning, no waterside workers were engaged, and the loading and unloading of vessels ceased. Among the ships affected is the Kairanga, which is loading for New Zealand. BRISBANE WHARVES IDLE Received Nov. 30 10.50 p.m. (A. & NX) BRISBANE, Nov. 30. Not a single wharf labourer cffeiod

his services under shipowners’ stipulations at this morning’s pick-up.

GOVERNMENT’S ATTITUDE NO PRESSURE ON THE MEN THE LABOUR PABTY’S DUTY (A. & N.Z.) CANBERRA, Nov. 30. In the Senate, Senator Pearce stated that the Government had no intention of bringing pressure to bear on the Arbitration Court to interfere in the overtime strike dispute. The watersiders were endeavouring by a species of terrorism to make the Arbitration Court bow to their dictation. There was a duty on the watersiders to obey the conditions laid down by the Court. The Government would go to any length to preserve law and order and see that industry was carried on. He added that there was an obligation on the Labour Party to tell the men that they were in the wrong.