THE SEAMEN’S STRIKE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIII, Issue 9747, 13 December 1922, Page 7

THE SEAMEN’S STRIKE

CONFERENCE OF PARTIES. NO SETTLEMENT REACHED. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, December 12. A conference between the Executive Council of the Seamen’s Federation, the Seamen’s Union, and representatives of the shipowners was held today. Mr T. 0. Bishop, on behalf of the shipowners, said there was no desire to increase the difficulties of the past three weeks, but he desired to place the facts in connection with the dispute clearly before the public. He then placed the following statement before the meeting:—. . About the beginning of November the crews of certain vessels in Auckland and Lyttelton gave notice of their intention to leave their employment, and made it clear to their employers that the reason for their action was disatisfaction with the Arbitration Court’s award. On November 7 the position was discussed by, representatives of the shipping companies and of the Federated Seamen’s Union, but no solution of the trouble was discovered, as the shipping companies were determined to uphold the award, and the union asked that the 1920 agreement be substituted for the award. Following upon this discussion, the crews of all other ships under New Zealand articles ceased work as their vessels arrived at their home ports. The shipping companies were then faced with the only two alternatives: (1) To allow all the ships to remain idle. (2) To obtain other labour. They adopted the second alternative and were able to man their vessels and maintain their services. On November 20 some of the seamen who had text their ships signified their willingness to return to work, but for the reasons set out in my letter of November 29 the shipowners were not prepared to' re-engage these men without some official asurance from the Seamen s Union that the/trouble was at anend, and that the award of the Court wo„Id be accepted. The shipowners decision in this matter was conveyed to Mr Young by letter dated November 24. Had the assurance asked foi been given by the union about that date the trouble might have been settled but for reasons which have not been made known to us the union has deferred taking any action until now. This delay has had an important etfect upon the situation, because, during the last two weeks, the number of qualified seamen and firemen in the ships now running has largely increased. The services of these men will not be dispensed with while they continue to give satisfactory service; therefore all that the shipowners can now offer is that, on receipt of an official assurance from the union that the Arbitration Court award will be accepted, they will engage members of the union for work in ships as vacancies occur. Further, before agreeing to do this, they will require an assurance from the union that crdws for all ships on New Zealand articles now held up in Australian ports shall be available as they are required Mr Young. > secretary of tlie seamen’s Union, said the union was not prepared to give any assurance whatever regarding the Court s awaid. He considered Mr (Bishop’s statement was in the nature of an ultimatum, and precluded further discussion. Mr Bishop said such was not the intention of the shipowners, who were still prepared to discuss the nature or the assurance which they had reque ed, as well as other necessary matters. The statement was prepared not to preclude discussion, but so that all present might underhand the position. 1 The seamen’s representatives then withdrew. • , The matter remains unsettled.

ACTION AGAINST DUNEDIN MEN

DUNEDIN, Dec. 12. The free labour crews have settled down to their duties in excellent style, and the ships so manned are, running to schedule time. Several men from one or two ships who joined up moie with the object of having a trip or two up the coast than anything else have since signed off the articles, but no difficulty whatever has been experienced in engaging others to fill their A number of men are still applying daily at the Labour Bureau for positions on deck or in the stokehold. Most of the applicants are of a good stamp, and many of them have had some previous experience at sea. j The Crown Prosecutor has summonses out against 48 members of the Searmen’s Union on a charge of taking part in an unlawful strike. The men formerly belonged to the crews of the Union steamers - Kini, Corinna, and ,Paloooia.. i ■ MANUKA TO BE RECOMMISSIONED. AUCKLAND, Dec. 12. The international steamer Manuka is to be recommissioned. She wall sail for Sydfiey on Friday, 22nd inst. PROSECUTIONS IN CHRISTCHURCH. }. Informations against 47 members of the Seamen’s Union, alleging that they were parties' to an illegal strike, have been laid* by the Labour Department, Christchurch. The action is taken under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and a. penalty of £lO is claimed in each case. The cases will come before the' Magistrate’s Court on 20th inst.