SHIPPING HOLD-UP.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17411, 25 May 1928, Page 7

SHIPPING HOLD-UP.

NO SIGN OF SETTLEMENT. WATERSSDERS SUPPORT COOKS. BIG UNION SPLIT POSSIBLE. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —copyright.) (Australian Press Association). SYDNEY, May 24. There is still no sign of a settlement of the dispute with the marine cooks, it is now 11 weeks since the Ulimaroa was held up. Business men are urging an increase in the cargo fleets in order to meet trading needs. in the Federal House of Representatives the Treasurer, Dr. Earle Page, said that if a request were made by the proper persons for the temporary suspension of the costal clauses of the Navigation Act, in view of the stoppage of shipping activities caused by tiie marine cooks’ strike, the Government would give due consideration to it.

At a meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Council of Trades Unions and maritime union officials it was decided to ask the Trades Hall councils throughout Australia to decide whether the Trades Union Council is to continue to control the cooks’ dispute with the authority of the rest of the industrial movement, or whether the cooks arc to be allowed to defy the whole movement. MELBOURNE, May 24. The Waterside Workers’ Federation has informed the Council of Trades Unions that it is standing behind Mr. Tudehopc and the Cooks’ Union in the dispute with the shipowners. This decision will have far-reaching effects on the waterfront and it may develop into the greatest union split in the industrial history of Australia. The decision was reached after an interview between Mr. Tudehopc and the management committee of the federation. It means that the waterside workers and the cooks are now' ranged together against the Council of Trades Unions and the whole of the other maritime unions.

LATER. MR- TUDEHOPE’S LONE HAND. MANNING OF SHIPS. INQUIRIES REGARDING LABOUR. (3y Telegraph.—Press Assn.—copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) (Received' May 25, 8.55 a.m.) MELBOURNE, May 25. Mr. Tudehope, the secretary of the Cooks’ Union, has reached Melbourne again. At a meeting of the Trades Ilall Council last night the following letter in reply to an invitation to Mr. Tudehope to attend was read:— “ I respectfully desire to Inform you that I am at present engaged in negotiating for a settlement of the cooks’ dispute. I feel it would be inadvisable for me to take part in your proceedings.” Mr. Tudehope, however, was a listener in the visitors’ gallery. The industrial officers of the various shipping companies arc at present conferring as to the number and quality of volunteer labour offering, so that in the event of the strike continuing a definite move can be made on the appointed date to man the ships with free labour. The union officials do not treat this threat seriously. CAUSE OF THE COOKS. SUPPORTED BY SYDNEY COUNCIL. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) (Rcc. May 25, 10.0 a.m.) SYDNEY, May 25. The Labour Council in Sydney carried a resolution supporting the Cooks’ strike.