SEAMEN REFUSE TO MAN ANY SHIP

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26394, 12 April 1951, Page 6

SEAMEN REFUSE TO MAN ANY SHIP

Decision Of Unions At Four Main Ports (N*w ZMtend Praia Assoetatom) ' WELLINGTON, April 11. Seamen at al! four main porta have refused to man any ships. This decision was reported to-day by the president of the Federated Seamen's Union (Mr F. P. Walsh) after the completion of an adjourned meetinf of Auckland seamen this morning. Asked for voting figures in the various porta, Mr Walsh said there was no disagreement within the union on the new policy. Asked how hta former statement that Lyttelton seamen had unanimously supported the national council's policy could be reconciled with the new statement that all branches had refused work, Mr Walsh said the national council’s policy was changed. Be said the former policy, which involved the handling of the inter-island steamer expresses, became Inoperative when last Friday the Lyttelton watereiders refused to work the Rangatira, Members of the Cooks’ and Stewards’ Union at Wellington have been called to a meeting at the Trades Ball to-morrow morning. When the seamen became involved in the dispute over the steamer expreee last week-end, the Cooks’ and Stewards’ Union took a similar stand.

Members of toe Seamen’s Union in Auckland to-day walked off the few remaining manned ships in port. The crews of three Union Company freighters .left with their belongings. Two deep-sea Ashing trawlers at Auckland are affected. Except for effects oh inter-island and Tasman passenger travel and on the Auckland fish supply the seamen’s decisions have resulted in little change in the position. Although the pool of available naval ratings is steadily

shrinking, sufficient remain to man more ships needed to carry urgent coastal cargoes. Seamen in overseas ships at Auckland have generally maintained a neutral attitude to the wharf crisis. The prew of the Italian steamer Dea Maztells MO discharging their Tunisian phosphate cargo, and Up to a few days ago seamen in at least two British ships assisted in preparing for servicemen’s work. This indirect association has now ended, and both crews are undertaking only normal maintenance work.