IS IT A "RING" ?

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1084, 24 March 1911, Page 2

IS IT A "RING" ?

1 WHAT FIREMEN ASKED AND GOT. ON THE CLAN MENZIES. (Dy Telegraph—Special Correspondents Auckland, March 23. According to statements made in shipping circles something in the nature of a "ring" has been established amongst firemen in New Zealand, with a view to extorting exorbitant rates of pay from tlio shipping companies trading to and from Now Zealand. As an instance of this, the case of the Clan Menzies—a steamer belonging to the Scales Line—is quoted. It is stated that, when the Clan Menzies arrived hero from Bunbury, West Australia, some weeks ago, several of her firemen deserted, and the master (Captain Turton) was obliged to engago local men in order to take the vessel up and down the coast. In two instances as much as .£lO per man for tho trip down to Wellington, with a free passago back, was demanded, and as no men could bo got for less, the master was obliged,' with tho best grace possible, to engago the men upon their own terms. Having taken his vessel up and down tho coast, the difficulties of the captain of the Clan Menzies by no means ended. Upon his return here, a number of the firemen engaged in New Zealand signed off, ana, before sailing for London on 1 tiexday last, it was necessary for. Captain. Turton to engage three more men tooomplete the shin's complement. _ It is alleged that the disengaged firemen in port, realising Captain Turton's difficulty, banded together and decided that whichever man was engaged he should not accept less than ,£SO, or .£1 a day for tho voyage to London, in addition'to koep. fhe visiting skipper's first knowledge of such on agreement having been arrived at was v'lien lie went to engago the men. He found <lbout a scoro of stokers awaiting him, and on asking each man whether he would consent to be engaged, ha was met with a general demand of ,£SO for the voyage. Captain Turton and (he agents were not inclined at first to entertain the proposal, but, as tho men held command of tho situation (seeing that the steamer which 'liad a large and valuable cargo could not get away without them), they wcrp compelled lo meet the men by, offering thenr Xds each for the voyage. After considerable negotiation this offer was accepted, and the steamer got away. The experience of the Clan llenzies, while it may 1m regarded as a surprising one, is stated, however, not' to be an exception, as ,£ls per man lor the trip Home has had lo be paid in quite a number of instances lately in other New Zealand ports, as well as in Auckland, and it is asserted that as much as ,£GO has had to be paid in-one case. ' •As showing the serious nature to which this movement among firemen is growing, anothov instance (also in connection witli the Clan Mcn;ics) is rehired, it is asserted upon good authority Iliac on Monday lafit, when one local fireman signed on at ■£10 a month, his action was viewed with such disfavour by hib fellows that ho was severely mauled, and lie informed the captain that he would not go aboard unless ho ■ was placed under lock and key on tho ship until it sailed. This the captain consented to do. and the' fireman thus saw no more of Auckland.