INTIMIDATION ALLEGED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 250, 22 October 1928, Page 5

INTIMIDATION ALLEGED.

NON-UNION TRAWLING CREW.

STATEMENT BY OWNERS.

Allegations that the non-unionist labourers employed on the fishing trawler Star 111. were made the objects of threats and vilification, and that they were attacked by unionists who threw lumps of coal, causing several minor injuries, are contained in a statement of the recent labour trouble on Star 111., by the owners, Messrs. P. Feron and Son, Ltd., Moorhouse Avenue, Cliristchurch.

After explaining that the vessels and business of P. Feron and Son., Ltd. ,have always been conducted on non-union lines, the crews being engaged at a weekly wage of £5 10/ (far in excess of union rates elsewhere) and given food, the owners say that on September 19, the Star m. returned to port after four days' fishing, and the trawling master, acting on instructions, told the men that fishing would commence a day earlier than usual the following week, the vessel to leave on Saturday instead of Sunday. There was no dissent from this on the part of the men, but on Friday, after being paid, as usual, full wages for a short working week, the crew appointed a spokesman, who demanded that they should be paid an extra commission if they went to sea a day earlier, giving as a reason that Saturday is the fisherman's Sunday. Having ascertained that the crew was unanimous in this demand, the trawling master discharged them. In this he acted on instructions. After fruitless negotiations the owners advertised for a new crew, and from among fifty or sixty applicants picked seven men, who left for Lvttelton on the following morning. "They were greeted on the wharf by a collection of watersiders and seamen, among whom was an official of the Watersiders' Union. Though afterwards he maintained that he Tiappened to be there' on his way to the Waikouaiti, the fact remains that the new crew were told that the vessel was 'black,' that they were 'scabs,' and threats of a most sinister nature were made to them. This effectually influenced most of them, and thev left the vessel.

"However, we finally manned the vessels, and tliev put in a week's Jishing. On their return to Lvttelton on Thursday, October 4. our crews were again made the objects of threats and vilification, and union stalwarts, from behind trucks, etc., sniped them with lumps of coal intermittently. Fortuntaely there were no severe casualties." The company attributes the trouble to tlie interference of union officials. "Due to bad counsel and inept leadership," the statement concludes, "twelve decent and misguided seamen have lost a good berth, and this has been followed by a campaign of falsehood, intimidation and violence, with bitterness .and loss? to all concerned."