AN OMINOUS MOVE

Wairarapa Daily Times, 22 October 1931, Page 5

AN OMINOUS MOVE

SHIPPING STRIKE SPREADS UNIONS REFUSE WORK. Press Association Electric Telegraph Copyright SYDNEY, Wednesday. Events in connection with the shipping and slaughtermen’s strikes are moving swiftly and ominously. Ship painters and dockers have decided to refuse work on the vessels alread} involved in the strike. Mr J. S. Garden, secretary of the Trades and Labour Council, has issued an appeal for funds for the seamen thrown out of employment, Mr Garden declares that the origin of the dispute reveals a clear case of victimisation, but the secretary of the Stewards’ Union replies that it is a clear case of “Communist rot.” The Conciliation Commissioner, dealing with the shipping dispute, placed a series of proposals before the compulsory conference in Melbourne today, urging them to place them before tlicir respective organisations. These proposals affirm the employers’ right of free selection of crews in accordance with the Navigation Act, their right to discharge any employee and the right of any employee to terminate his employment at any time, but the employers shall exercise no discrimintaion in the selection of employees “except in the case of the particular employee mentioned at the conference.”

The seamen will meet to-morrow to review the whole position, also the Conciliation Commissioner’s proposals. Colonel Eric Campbell, leader of the New Guard, who was the guest of honour at the Millions Club luncheon to-day, said that if volunteers will man the idle ships the New Guard will deal with the basher gangs, and if volunteers cannot be obtained the New Guard will supply sufficient men to enable the ships to sail. “I intend,” lie said, “to interview shipowners this afternoon and to obtain an unqualified assurance that the men who volunteer will receive continuity of employment at all costs. The New Guard will deal with the slaughtermen in the same fashion, and—make .no mistake —will do it very definitely.” He added that the Now Guard is a loyal body consisting of tens of thousands banded together on military lines to resist any attempt to Sovietise the State. Colonel Campbell was cheered vociferously by an influential gathering of business men anti prominent public men,

Colonel Campbell announced this evening that the shipowners had given an assurance that they would look after any men who volunteered to work the ships. However, the3 r would await the outcome of the Seamen’s Union meeting to-morrow before calling for volunteers. VOLUNTEERS AVAILABLE.

MELBOURNE, Wednesday.

The meat exporters have completed arrangements for engaging volunteer labour if the slaughtermen do not guarantee to work under tho award conditions by to-night. The employers claim that sufficient volunteer labour is available.

WARNING TO UNIONS.

CA NBEKRA, Wednesday

Tiie Prime Minister, Mr J. 11. Scullin, in. au impassioned speech in the House of Representatives this afternoon, appealed to the seamen to return to their ships without delay.

He warned them i that if serious trouble occurred over ‘•'one man” they need not look to the Commonwealth Government to take the same aetion as it had done on behalf of tho waterside workers, whose positions were restored by official regulations.

Tho trouble in this instance had arisen when a shipping company desired to re-engage a seaman who became ill but recovered, and the union refused to permit his substitute to bo put off.

Mr Scullin added that the trouble was caused by Communists. He named a man allegedly responsible, giving his record. The police could deal with him and tho Commonwealth would support the State, lie said. Mr J. G. Latham, deputy-leader of the Opposition, said the Government had complete power in dealing with the seamen.

FUTILE NEGOTIATIONS. (Received Thursday, 9.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Negotiations in regard to the shipplug strike and meat dispute were continued at Melbourne but no finality was reached. Both the shipowners and tho Seamen’s Union considered the Conciliation Commissioner’s finding. The shipowners forwarded a reply, in which, it is understood, they agree with the terms laid down.