NEW HOPE FOR SETTLEMENT OF WHARF DISPUTE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 219, 15 September 1928, Page 7

NEW HOPE FOR SETTLEMENT OF WHARF DISPUTE

MEN SEEK REFUGE IN TRADE UNION COUNCIL Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright ] [ Australian Press Assn. | Received Sept. 14, 10.20 p m. MELBOURNE, Sept. 14. ' As a result of the favour able re ception of the proposal that the whole waterside dispute be placed in the hands of the Australian and New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, made at the watersiders’ conference, prospects of a settlement are considerably brighter. The watersiders realise that if the owners carry out their threat to engage non-union laboui, the strike will hot last long, unless it becomes general and many other industries are involved, and if the dispute spreads from the Waterfront the great oulk of public hpinion will be against the strikers. in union circles it is regarded as certain that the strike will be placed in the hands of the Council, wnich will order the watersiders to return to work Under the new award is a prelude to the commencement of negotiations With the shipowners. If this is done it Bieans that the watersiders are abauloning the position they have adopted, ind are casting the onus of retreat Ipon the Council. The latter commenced negotiations to-day when it arranged to interview the watersiders’ leaders, with Mr Logan, A conference of the shipowners decided to write the Watersiders’ Federation giving it one more opportunity to o r der the men to return to Work.

- VOLUNTEER LABOUR FOR SYDNEY SHIPS MANY APPLICATIONS [ Australian Press Assn. | Received Sept. 14, 10 p.m. SYDNEY, Sept. 14. Following the application of the shipowners, Judge Beeby, who is ill in bed, at a court convened at his bedside, ruled that a strike exists in the shipping industry. The owners here are now preparing to engage volunteer labour, and many applications have already been received. A statement issued by the owners declares: ‘The new award really gives higher wages, better hours and easier working conditions to the waterside workers. The fact is that they do not like the idea of the new award making away with the cherished system by which every branch at every port had enforced its own conditions, through pome new domestic rule designed to over-ride or supersede some of the conditions obnoxious to them/’