NIAGARA LEAVES SYDNEY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20085, 14 November 1930, Page 13

NIAGARA LEAVES SYDNEY.

NEW CREW ENGAGER,

1000 MEN ANSWER CALL.

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(Rooeived November 13th, 9.00 jp.m.}

SYDNEY, November 13.

The Niagara sailed at 6 p.m. for Auckland. A crowd of over IQQO men gathered outsfde the shipping master's office, in response to a eall for a crew for the vessel, and the new erew quick* ly signed on. A Union Company official denies the statement that the company will probably place its ships on Articles exclucU lag the employment of Australian seamen, following; the action of the Seamen's Union in disciplining 59 mem* bers of the deck-hand and engine-room 'taff of the Niagara. This denial was in reference to a statement reported to have been made by another representative of the company, who said the Niagara paid higher wages and had more overtime than any other liner on the Pacific run, yet other veseels were never delayed. "If this sort of thing continues," ho was said to have added, "we will be compelled to place our ships under other articles, and employ other than Australian seamen." Union's Action Resented.

One of the old crew of the Niagara states that for 18 years the ship has been over-staffed. Most of the men had served on the ship for years, and were well satisfied, and the decision of the Seamen's Union to discipline the crew for bringing the vessel back from Auckland two firemen short is causing dissatisfaction, as no breach of the rules occurred to justify it.

it is said that Bome of the disciplined fnen, who will not be allowed to sign on again for the-vessel for six months, are discussing the advisability of seeking an injunction the union from giving effect to its decision.

Shipping circles are of the opinion that the foot of the trouble is the desire of unemployed seamen to oust th© working seamen from their positions. Tt is pointed out that tho Communistic element is prominent in the unemployed ranks.