THE STEWARDS' DEMAND.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 17022, 20 December 1920, Page 6

THE STEWARDS' DEMAND.

4 EFFECT UPON FERRY SERVICE. prospect of settlement. The prospects of a settlement being arrived at between the Cooks' .and 'Stewards' Union and the Shipping Companies now seem brighter. The men on the ferry steamers did not hand in their notjees on Saturday, evidently awaiting the results of a conferonce which it is understood will be held at 'Wellington to-day. The decision of the Arbitration Court will-also bo given to-day or to-morrow. Mr'l). -A. Aitken, general manager of the Union Stenmsliip Company, was a passenger Wellington by the W ahine on To a representative, of "The Press"' he said that he could expve«s no opinion about the matter. tt tlie men should give notico to-day t ! will take effect to-morrow, while the" Wahinc is at Lyttelton and the Maori at Wellington.

SERIOUS TROUBLE NOT ANTICIPATED.

(special to "the press. ') WELLINGTON, Devember 19. There is no further news available hero regarding tho threatened strike of the marine cooks and stewards and nothing definite is likely to be known until the Arbitration Court gives its decision io-morrow or on Tuesday regarding the bonus demanded by the union. The general impression seems to be 'that there will be no strike, but if there is a strike tho trouble will bo general and not confined only to the ferry service. -c.ii Some passengers from the South. ; Island who aro proceeding to England jby the Remuera on Tuesday, packed their clothes hurriedly and came on to Wellington by last night's steamer from Lyttelton, fearing that otherwise they .might miss their connexion. DUNEDIN,. December 18. Tho general opinion here is that the ferry service trouble is not likely to assume any big proportions and that tho steamers will be kept running.

THE POSITION EXPLAINED.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) DUNEDIN, December 18. Tho formal position in tho cooks' and stewards' dispute" is that their union applied separately for an extra .bonus of £2 per month. The application was heard last week and the judgment, which would bo binding, has not yet "been delivered. The case differs from that of ordinary daily workers, in that the applicants are fed and lodged on tho ships, thereby entailing an increased expenditure on tho part of their employers as to the cost of living, the defraying of which is the ground of the application.

THE MEN'S THREAT.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, December 18. Tho stewards' dispute in New Zealand, now before the Arbitration Court, may take an unfavourable turn if' the decision is not regarded as favourable by the men. Members of the union have stated that if the extra £2 per month is not awarded, the Christmas traffic will be held up. Saturday's Wellington "Post" states that as far as can bo ascertained, any action that might bo taken locally, will not have any connexion with the current trouble in Australia. THE TROUBLE IN AUSTRALIA. (By CaWe—Press. Association—Copyrig-ht.J i (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, December 18. 1 * The stewards' dispute has become : more serious dn consequence of the Transporters' Council resolving to stand solidly behind the stewards in their fight "for an eight hour day. (Received December 19th, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, December 18. The shipping position as unchanged. ISOLATION OP TASMANIA. MELBOURNE, December 18. The Tasmanian 'Government informed Mr Hughes that it is willing to pay the increases for tlirep inonths { if the strike is not settled in tho interim. Mr Hughes is consulting the companies, incidentally, promising to divert the Commonwealth shipping to Tasmania - where practicable. The wharf labourers have complicated matters by submitting claims for 5s 3d per hour.

MORE STEAMERS HELD UP.

POSSIBILITY OF TROUBLE EXTENDING. (Received December 20tl), 12.40 a.m.) 1 SYDNEY, December 19. There are no developments in tiliei shipping trouble, excepting that mora inter-State steamers have been held up. Thero is a possibility of the strike extending to cargo boats. A number of New Zealanders and in- ' • tending Davis Cup visitors are greatly disappointed at the indefinite postponement of sailings for New Zealand. 0