SEAMEN'S FIRM ATTITUDE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8726, 27 November 1913, Page 5

SEAMEN'S FIRM ATTITUDE.

IMMIGRANTS OFFER TO WORK

SHIPS,

BIG INDUSTRIAL UPHEAVAL

FEARED.

SYDNEY, November 26. The Union Company's clerks finished unloading -the Willoclira and Manuka and are now engaged in removing- the Makura's fruit.

The Tqfna arrived from. Fiji with a record cargo of bananas':' The fruit being of a perishable^ nature^"makes a quick clearance necessary, but, so far, no attempt has been made to'unload it. Mr HcGowen arid Mr Carrhichael conferred with the Secretary o f the Seamen's Union, and it is reported that the Ministers unavailingly used endeavours to obtain a modification of the Union's attitude, the Seamen's Union declining to man New Zealand steamers. • " ' ;

A new development to-day was the willingness expressed by the Orama's stranded immigrants to work the Maheno to New. Zealand, if required.

An official of the Union Company asked for volunteers during the morning and 30 names were handed in. The men were asked to ■ stand ready for a call.

The "Sun" publishes a statement that the Union Company, desirous of shifting the stranded immigrants, proposed to man the Manuka with free labour, much of which was to be supplied by the immigrants;' themselves, with a .sufficient percentage of skilled sea labour.' The paper adds that the industrial officers, fearing a great upheaval of waterside and other tra?isport industries, prevailed on the Union Company to stay their hands while a special appeal was made to the Seamen's Union to treat the case of the immigrants as special and to allow them to work the Manuka tp New Zealand and regard the dispute unaffected by this concession. The Secretary of the Union declined to agree *to the proposal, which it is understood the seamen are tinwilling to entertain.