SEAMEN FROM OVERSEAS

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26362, 5 March 1951, Page 6

SEAMEN FROM OVERSEAS

Meeting Held At Wellington

“WILL TAKE SHIPS TO SEA” (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. March 4. “We will take the ships to sea all right. We don’t cate who loads them, but we won’t help load them.” This statement was made this -evening by Mr G. M. McGuirk, who was chairman at a meeting in the ballroom of the Dominion Monarch on Saturday of 400 seamen in overseas ships in the port of Wellington. Mr McGuirk said the meeting was called to discuss the_attitude of the National Union of Seamen towards the waterfront strike. “We are prepared to carry out our routine duties in the ships, but we are not prepared to do any work normally done by watersiders.” said Mr McGuirk. Mr McGuirk said the meeting was addressed by the representative m New Zealand of the National Union of Seamen (Mr J. Nicholson), who explained the legal position of the men. He said that they could decide for themselves whether they helped to load ships. He adyised them Co keep on the right side of the law. Mr McGuirk said questions were asked, but there was no resolution adopted. _ , j, At the meeting on Saturday it was stated that a further meeting of seamen would be held if necessary later this week. Mr McGuirk has been asked to address a meeting of watersiders in Wellington to-morrow morntog.

N.Z. ENGINEERING workers; UNION

NORMAL WORK TO BE CARRIED OUT (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 3. The national council of the New Zealand Engineering Workers’ Union at its quarterly meeting yesterday recommended its members to carry on normal work. The question of union policy was raised, particularly as it affected maintenance engineering workers in freezing works. The following resolution was adopted by the council: “We reaffirm our belief in conciliation and arbitration as a means of settling industrial disputes. We recommend all our members to carry out their normal duties and not directly or indirectly to help or hinder Services forces engaged on the waterfront. Further, we recommend our members to refrain from working with members of any new unions or free labour created by the dispute without express instructions from the national council.” a . . This resolution carried a footnote stating: “All maintenance work at plant used by the Services to be maintained by Service personnel.” The council also adopted a resolution condemning the Government for bringing down the Emergency Regulations and expressing the opinion that Parliament should have been called. Another resolution endorsed the actions of the Federation of Labour in its efforts to bring about a settlement. Freezing Workers Meet Ngahauranga and Petone freezing workers held a joint meeting at the Trades Hall yesterday and were addressed by waterfront and miners’ officials and by Mr W. B. Richards, president of the Transport Workers’ Federation. Resolutions were adopted stating that work at Ngahauranga and Petone would not be resumed until the Emergency Regulations were revoked. The men have agreed to continue killing at the municipal abattoir on two days a week for hospitals and similar institutions. They state that they are prepared to do this work for nothing ft the master butchers will supply the meat to the institutions at cost. 7 The Wellington Drivers’ Union will hold another general meeting on Monday evening at which the effect of the dispute on drivers will be considered. So far the union has made no recommendation to members on any course of action. Seamen on the Kawa and Kauri, jhich are finishing unloading at Wellington, will be paid off to-day.

FIRE DANGER ON COAL SHIP

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. March 4. The crew of the British tramp Glen Lyon worked until late to-day unloading over-heated coal from the two forward hatches of their ship at her berth at the Railway wharf. The temperature of the coal in the Glen Lyon was 165 degrees on Saturday, said Captain W. McGarry, A constant watch is being kept. Water has not been played on the coal because officers say it would crust and the temperature would increase.

AIRMAN INJURED AT AUCKLAND

FOOT CRUSHED BY BUTTER BOXES (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 3. The first Service casualty on the Auckland waterfront during the ernerjency occurred this morning when an airman suffered a crushea foot and was admitted to hospital. He was working in the hold of the Hornby Grange when a sling of butter boxes weighing about two tons was lowered on to him.