IDLE SHIPS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20013, 2 December 1927, Page 7

IDLE SHIPS

THE OVERTIME STRIKE Fedemtion Official Says Men Will Stay Ont MANY CREWS PAID OFF rntr. POSITION AT SYDNEY. (By Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received Dec. 1. 10.20 p.m.) '(A. & N.Z.) SYDNEY, Dec. 1. There was no lack of wharf labourers offering at the early pick-ups in Sydney this morning, and they verbally expressed willingness to work overtime. On the strength of these promises they were allowed to start work, and they will have a final opportunity of honouring the overtime promise tonight. Should they refuse, the struggle will begin in earnest to-morrow morning, when the shipowners will definitely enforce the agreements, and the failure of the men to observe the agreements will mean that ships will be laid up. A meeting of the Sydney watersiders to-day endorsed all the actions of the Federal Waterside Wokers Union management committee. After the meeting Mr Searle, the secretary of the Sydney branch of the Federation, stated that there would certainly be no loading or discharging of cargo after five o’clock to-night. Anticipating developments Mcllwraith’s have decided to lay up the steamer Karoola, which is engaged in the passenger trade to South Australia, and notice has also been given to three of the Adelaide Company’s vessels, the Ulooloo, Arkaba and Aldinga, to pay off the crews to-morrow The Howard Smith inter-State passenger liner Canberra will pay off upon arrival at Sydney this afternoon, and the passenger bookings for Melbourne have been cancelled. The same company’s cargo steamer Sares is paying off to-morrow. Officials at the Trades Hall express the opinion that the strike will be and will probably result in the leaders of the Watersiders’ Federation capitulating as the odds against them are overwhelming. The men fear that if they continue to refuse to work overtime a call will be made for free labour and with the present amount of unemployment the owners will experience no difficulty in securing volunteers to do the work. While members of the Seamen’s Union would refuse to man inter-State vessels loaded by volunteers, it is doubtful whether the crews of the oversea ships would agree to support the strikers, as the local wharf labourers refused to support them during the British seamen’s strike two years ago.

Officials of the Watersiders’ Federation had a long conference with the leaders of the Seamen’s Union, and it was decided that the overtime strike should not extend to coastal ships.

AT MELBOURNE OWNERS’ TERMS NOT ACCEPTED GEELONG WOOL SALE AFFECTED Received Dec. 1, 11 p.m. (A. & N.Z.) MELBOURNE, Dec. 1. Few men offered at to-day’s pick-up and not one offered for work on the conditions laid down by the owners. When the steamer Delkera arrived from Sydney, five gangs of men accepted the owners’ terms and commenced unloading, but it is understood that they have no intention of continuing. • The crews of the collier Hebburn and the steamer Mildura have been given notice. At the Geelong wool sale the buyers refused to operate owing to the waterside dispute, and the sale was postponed until the following day. OWNERS ANNOUNCE COMPLETE STOPPAGE. ALL WORK TO CEASE. (Received Dec. 2, 1 a.m.) (A. & N.Z.) MELBOURNE, Dec. 1. A combined conference of overseas shipping representatives and Commonwealth steamship owners to-day issued the following statement: — “As it has been clearly apparent that the Wharf Labourers’ Union and its members will not compy with all the terms and conditions of all awards, agreements and decisions of the Board, work on all steamers in all ports is to cease to-night.” This statement, however, does not refer to the Tasmanian services, which will still be maintained. It means that from five o’clock to-night all Steamers, both overseas and interstate, with the exception of the Commonwealth and Patrick Lines and the Tasmanian services, will be tied up m every port of Australia. It is estimated that between 70 and 80 interstate steamers will bp laid idle, and some 2000 seamen will be paid off and returned to their home ports. Shipping trading within the State are outside the dispute. GOVERNMENT ACTION MB. BRUCE'S BEQUEST LABOUR PARTY’S OPPOSITION Received Dec. 1, 10.30 p.m. (A. & N.Z.) CANBERRA, Dec. 1. In the House of Representatives Mr S. M. Bruce moved the suspension of standing orders to discuss the waterside

trouble and a motion setting out that “In view of the serious unemployment and the general distress which will result therefrom, the House pledges itself to support the Government in taking any steps it deems necessary, in conjunction with the Governments of the States, as far as possible to maintain law and order and to ensure the continuance of the service necessary to the whole Commonwealth.” The Leader of the Opposition protested and a long and heated wrangle followed. The Government was charged with attempting to get despotic legislation to deal with an industrial trouble which it had failed to get before, this referring to the previous trouble when an attempt was made to secure power to deport the seamen’s leaders, Messrs Walsh and Johnson. The incessant uproar resulted in the suspension of Mr Blakeley, on the motion of Mr Bruce. Mr Bruce, speaking to the resolution, said the Government would be justified in interfering where one of the parties was acting in flagrant contempt of an award which it had received. The shipping services had to be maintained and the Government would take action j to sec that they were, also to see that those who carried on the services would receive adequate protection. In an extreme case the Government would issue a proclamation under the Crimes Act. Mr Charlton moved an amendment: “That the House is of opinion that consultations should be held immediately between the Government and the various State Governments affected and organisations concerned, to come to some clear understanding of the matter at issue and a settlement thereof by means of a conference and conciliation.” In the Senate a resolution similar to Mr Bruce’s was carried, despite the protests of Labour Senators. BRITISH INTERESTS DISCUSSION IN LONDON AWARDS MUST BE OBSERVED Received Dec. 1 9 p.m. (A. & N.Z.) LONDON, Nov. 30. A meeting of representative British owners and managers in Londjon considered the Australian embrogliu reached the conclusion tuat the action of the watersiders has resulted in chaos which bears no relation to awards or oncers of the Arbitration Courts. The companies point out that they are only looking for due r</ ognition of awards. Such, a matter as l*.e refusal to load butter brought from Sydney in an inter-State vessel on the ground that the men did not know whether it was declared “black” was absolutely contrary to the awards of the Court, hence the managers considered it essential to notify the workers that all cargo at Australian ports must in future be worked in strict accordance with the terms ordered by the Court.