EFFORTS TO SETTLE SHIPS’ ENGINEERS’ DISPUTE IN AUSTRALIA

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 October 1947, Page 5

EFFORTS TO SETTLE SHIPS’ ENGINEERS’ DISPUTE IN AUSTRALIA

(N.Z.P.A.—Reuter—Copyright.)

Reed. 7.45 p.m. Sydney, Oct. 1. As the engineers’ dispute forced more ships to tie up today in several Australian ports, the Minister of Supply and Shipping (Senator Ashley) flew from Canberra to Melbourne for conferences. An appeal for commonsense to end the immobilisation of shipping was made in Canberra today by the Prime Minister (Mr. Chlflley), who said, in answer to a question, that the provision of alternative means of transport, particularly to maintain food supplies, was being given the closest consideration. "Discussions have been proceeding almost continuously during the last few days to see if the deadlock can be ended,” he added. “We have a full realisation of what this interruption to shipping could mean to the economic affairs of the nation.” "1 have long condemned strikes as a method of settling disputes,” said the premier of Tasmania (Mr. Cosgrove), in the Tasmanian Parliament, "but in this case it is not industrial, but simply an argument between engineers and firemen m one si ip. "It is ridiculous that an argument between two individuals can hold up the whole of Australia.” Already 25 ships are immobilised. In Sydney the engineers are providing at least one man in each enginer 'Om .0 maintain steam for the handling of cargo. After conferring with representatives of the Maritime Industries Commission in Melbourne, Senator Ashley telephoned Mr. Chlflley in Canberra. It is believed that the only point standing in the way of settlement is whether the original fireman concerned in the dispute should be reinstated on the first or the second trip of the freighter. The Commission has agreed to reinstate four engineers and permit the ship to go to sea on an understanding that the fireman should be re-engaged on the vessel’s return to Sydney.