Agreement Reached To Settle The Victoria Crisis

Wanganui Chronicle, 29 November 1948, Page 5

Agreement Reached To Settle The Victoria Crisis

Trades Hall Will Stop Seamen's Blockade; Government Will Adjourn Prosecutions

(N.Z. P. A. —Copyright.) MELBOURNE, Nov. 28 (Rec. 6 pm).—The Premier (Mr. Hollway) has accepted proposals put forward by the Trades Hall Council for settling the Victorian crisis, and ending the dispute over the Essential Services Bill.

The main points of settlement arc that Labour leaders agree to end the ban placed by seamen on coal cargoes for Victoria and Mr. Hollway is prepared to adjourn the charges laid against leaders of the transport unions who participated in a 24-hour stoppage on November 17.

The news of the settlement terms was greeted with consternation by some Communist Union officials, wlib said they had been consulted about certain proposals, but were not in agreement with surrendering to Mr Hollway's Liberal Government. Mr. Hollway said, however, that be had been assured by the Trades Heil leaders that they had full power to discuss terms of settlement, and that transport unions had agreed to submit future disputes to the Trades Hall before taking drastic action. He added that the agreement was a triumph of moderation over extremism, and that the arrangement between tile transport unions and the Trades Hall was the greatest guarantee of future industrial peace. Earlier during the week-end watersiders dealt Communists a blow by agreeing to unload coal brought into Melbourne by colliers.