SEAMEN'S STRIKE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 200, 24 August 1926, Page 3

SEAMEN'S STRIKE.

VOLUNTEERS CLAIM COMPENSATION. j WHAT MAY HAPPEN. * (By Telegraph.— Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON", Monday. A sequel to the shipping strike in 1925, when volunteers from New Zealand assisted to man overseas ships, is a petition from John L. Coutts and 26 others, who served on the srteamer Arawa. They claim that through the opportune services rendered by volunteers great lose wps averted for Dominion producers, and they ask that the Meat and Dairy Boards and the Fruitgrowers' Federation be directed to reasonably compensate them for their pecuniary loss. The 27 men state their earnings in New Zealand would have amounted, in the aggregate to £1550, but that their total remuneration for their services during 112 days' absence from New Zealand was only £550. They also lost valuable clothing on the voyage. "The callous indifference and ingratitude exhibited by the representative Boards of Producers more directly benefited by their self-sacrifice are very keenly felt by your petitioners especially a 3 some have experienced difficulty in finding and retaining employment because of victimisation on account of having volunteered for this public service." Petitioners suggest that if the Producers' Boards are prepared to let the men suffer who come to their rescue, then the next time cargoes are held up the loss will be borne by the primary producers.

'Tailing the reasonable consideration asked for these boards will not again be able to procure volunteers to save the situation but will deservedly be allowed tot suffer the consequence of their ingratitude by being left to the mercy of the Bolshevists, through having alienated both eupport from loyaltists and public sympathy and the loss will fall heavily on the primajy producers."