SEAMEN'S STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3192, 17 September 1917, Page 4

SEAMEN'S STRIKE

POSITION UNALTERED. There is still no alteration in the position which has led to the smill coastal steamers being tied up to the .wharf. The position has now been fully inquired into by the Government, and as the two parties concerned (the Seamen's Union and the Shipowners' Federation) are not now'negotiating, it is for. the Government to take what action it deems fit to uphold the. law. That is in effect what the shipowners' representatives informed a Dominion representative on Saturday. Another shipowner's representative said that when Mr. W. T. Young spoke of the Penguin disaster being caused by insufficient look-out, ho was talking nonsense. "Had there been a dozen men on the look-out on the Penguin," said the shipowners' representative, , "the catastrophe would not have been averted, and Mt. Young knew it. ; The Penguin was carried out of her course by abnormal tides _in thick weather, which obscured all lights, and instead of turning out to sea after running a certain distance, silo was held on what was supposed to be her corn-so until she struck. If all the members of Mr. Young's Union, had been on duty that night the tragic accident could not have been prevented/' The spreading to Napier of the demands of the Seamen's Uuion for two men in a watch has not affected the Wairoa service, comprising the Tatgaroa, To Aroha, Koau, and Tu Atu, and sailings are proceeding uninterruptedly. It is understood that tho reason why the Wairoa service is not affected ''s because on these vessels there has never been more than one man on tho ?atoh. CYGNET TO BE LAID UP. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, leprembcr 15. Tho small coastal steamer Cygnet has been held up at Lyttelton owing to the shortage of seamen. Ordinarily she carries three deck-hands, but under the Seamen's Union demands four are required. Ono man signed off for private retieons, and a successor cannot bo obtained, nor is there a fourth hand available. Tho officbrs and crew have received "i. hours' notice, and are being paid off today. The Cygnet will be laid up till tho seamen's dispute is settled.