THE COOKS’ STRIKE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 23 May 1928, Page 5

THE COOKS’ STRIKE.

SETTLEMENT EFFORT. FUTILE CONFERENCE. press Assocktion-Electrio Telegraph-Copyright. MELBOURNE, Tuesday. The conference discussed the position for an hour and a-half, but achieved nothing in the direction of a settlement. The owners stood firmly by their terms already announced. ’ Meanwhile, hundreds of men, opposed to a strike, are idle and helpless. The Trades Union Council is unable to obtain replies to its messages to Mr Tudchope, the cooks’ general secretary, who m recalcitrant. He declined to allow his union to be represented at the conference with the shipowners. The deputy-chairman of the Commonwealth Steamship Owners’ Association, Mr Elford, stated that there, was a full and free discussion by the conference, and the shipowners pointed out to the trades union representatives that the offer they had made to the cooks lacked nothing they enjoyed under their former award.

Mr Jacob Johnson, secretary, of the Australian Seamen’s Union,’who has returned to Sydney, declared that the council of the trades unions were a lot of bushrangers, and were taking part in the dispute without the cooks’ authority, while some Melbourne officials appeared to be the willing tools of the shipowners.—Australian and N.Z. Press Assn. COOKS WANT CONFERENCE. SYDNEY, Tuesday. Mr Tudchope, secretary of the Marine Cooks’ Union, states that the union is now endeavouring to convene a conference with the owners to discuss proposed terms of settlement. Mr Tudchope strongly defended the action of the cooks yesterday in refusing mediation by the Australian and New Zealand Council of Trades Unions, stating that they do not recognise the latter’s authority to intervene in the matter without the consent of the organisation directly concerned.

Ho added that the union intended to notify the owners that the Australian and New Zealand Council of Trades Unions was acting without the authority of the cooks, and that the latter were now going to attempt to arrange a conference to discuss the question of the abolition of the roster system, together with other terms. —Australian and N.Z. Press Assn. / COUNCIL TAKES STAND. MELBOURNE, Tuesday. Despite the fact that the cooks repudiated intervention by the Australian aiul New Zealand Council of Trades Unions, it is expected That tlic council will endeavour to re-open negotiations with the owners. If the cooks’ leaders continue to refuse to recognise the council’s authority/ the council will conclude terms of settlement with the owners and take flic control of the dispute out of the cooks’ leaders hands.— Australian and N.Z. Press Association. A PLAIN STATEMENT. (Received Wednesday, 9.25 a.m.) . “MELBOURNE, This Day. The Shipowners’ Association has received a tqlegram from Mr Tudchope, of Sydney, requesting a conference to discuss a settlement, and declaring that the Trades Union Council lias no authority to act on tlie cooks’ behalf.

The shipowners’ secretary (Mr Elford) lias replied: “Wo will meet your representatives with or without representatives of other bodies, to discuss a settlement. We have already’informed you on two occasions of the terms on which we are ready to engage your members. These take nothing away from you to which von were previously entitled, but after the ships of all the members of my organisation are fully manned, if there is any difficulty in regard to details, we arc prepared to give consideration to any suggestion you make.—Australian and N.Z. Press Association. A DEFIANT ATTITUDE. (Received Wednesday, 9.25 a.m.) SYDNBY, This Day. A meeting of the combined committee of the Maritime Unions and Trades Union Council passed a resolution to resist to the utmost any attempt by the employers to engage non-union labour for ships; also to resist the abolition of the roster system, which for years lias boon a condition of employment, as well as a clause of the Cooks’ Union rules, and that before the owners get their way in this matter, the Arbitration Court should be consulted. —Australian and N.Z. Press Assn. VESSEL TO BE LAID UP. (Received Wednesday, 10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Another inter-State passenger vessel the Dimboola is to be laid up by the owners as the result of the cooks’ strike. The crew V’ill be given 24 hours’ notice on arrival from West Australia. —Australian and N.Z. Press Assn.