HOW SEAMEN FEEL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 278, 21 November 1913, Page 6

HOW SEAMEN FEEL.

i FEAR OF MARITIME STRIKE. Mr. Adam Xixon, who is president of the Auckland Seamen's Union, made a point in giving evidence yesterday, in connection with the application of the Licensed Victuallers' Association to have the hotels reopened, thai in the interests of the maritime services it was advisable that the hotols should not be opened. In support of this contention Mr. Nixon ami other prominent members of the Seamen's l*nion stated ! to-day that had th« hotels iv Auckland been open on Wednesday the mail steamer Alakura would not have had enough seamen to go aw.iy with. He and others had had a very hard job to persuade the members of "the Makura'e crew to get away to their ship. These men wen; under Australian articles, but their feeling was very keen acainst the present method of working the waterfront. The Seamen's Union officials wished above all things to prevent a maritime strikf—a condition nf afTuir.tliat was very imminent at the present time. If any hasty or ill-timed action were taken it would precipitate matters, and the whole of the members of the Federated Seamen's Yninn of Australasia would be involved. IVople did nol >epm to iealise. he suid, how very keenly seamen felt concerning tilingwhich they believed were nut all fair I and aboveboard, and they would over-' ride their executive in order to carry ! their feelings into effect.