THE SHIPPING TROUBLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 300, 19 December 1922, Page 5

THE SHIPPING TROUBLE.

m SYDNEY UNION'S ATTITUDE.

MEN ADVISED TO TAKE JOBS ON BEST TERMS OBTAINABLE. (Received 10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. The Seamen's Union declined officially to confirm a resolution that the strike is off, but it is understood that the men have been advised to seek engagements wherever they pleased on the best terms obtainable. The Union Company proposes to ignore the resolution if hedged around with conditions affecting volunteer labour. — (A. and N.Z. Cable.)

MAKURA IN VANCOUVER. QUESTION OF WORKING HER. VOTE TO BE TAKEN. {Received 10.30 a.m.) VANCOUVER, December 18. The waterside workers in the Vancouver waterfront will take a vote on Thursday to decide whether, or not they will unload the Union Company's mail steamer Makura, which is due here on that day from Sydney and Auckland with a non-union crew on board.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)

MEETING OF THE SEAMEN'S UNION. NO CHANGE IN THE POSITION. A meeting of seamen was held at the Trades Hall this morning and was addressed by Mr. Glover, president of the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Federation. As far as can be ascertained , there is no change in the position the I men still being prepared to carry on in the- same way as they have been doing since the trouble commenced. I

THE IDEE UNIONISTS. NO SIGN OF RETURNING. OWNERS SATISFIED.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday. In shipping circles it is thought that further negotiations between the shipowners and the Federated Seamen's Union are likely to take place before the Christmas holidays, but whether these will result in a settlement of the trouble in which unionists find themselves is regarded as somewhat doubtful. On the one hand, the members of the seamen's organisation claim that the shipping companies have been, and are being put to much expense because of the employment of free labour, while on the contrary the shipowners express themselves as being quite at rest as to the, future. They point to the fact that be-1 tween sixty and seventy vessels are in full commission, and say that they will be quite satisfied while matters proceed as j they are doing at present. Some members of the Seamen's Union claim that their organisation is in a posi-' tion to stand a siege for some months to come, and that they are not worrying as to the immediate possibilities. Within the past few days the executive council of the union has, it is understood, taken certain steps toward the conservation of its funds by stopping the tobacco allowance which was being made to the men. This may indicate an intention to maintain the existing situation as long as possible. At the moment it is difficult to indicate what will happen, but the idea is prevalent that things will drift on until, the whole trouble ultimately "fizzles out." It is considered that the qualified men at present on the ships must include some who are members of the Seamen's Union. As it seems unlikely that the , assurances asked for by the shipowners ! will be given by the executive of the . union, it is believed that more men will go back to work, a situation which, if it does occur, will be full of interesting possibilities so far as the Federated Sea- j men's Union is concerned. In some quarters there is a disposition ! to predict that the existence of the union is in so«ie danger because of the poasi- j bility of the formation of another union ! or the refusal on the part of those who ! go back to the ships to countenance the old union any longer. There is no very definite sign of any such break at present, but whether the trouble is settled amicably or otherwise there does not appear to be any risk of the travelling! public being put to any inconvenience j ' during the holidays or at any later'time.