JAPANESE VESSELS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 12, 9 October 1920, Page 7

JAPANESE VESSELS

BOYCOTTED .BY AUSTRALIAN LABOUR By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright Sydney, October 8. The Transport Workers' Federation ha> decided that from the beginning of next month no members of affiliated union's, ffsil be allowed to work on overseas Japanese vessels engaged in carrying cargo from one State to another. The alleged grtsind for the decision is that their cheaper freights will secure more trade fcr the and decrease the work available for Australian seamen.— Press Assn. [Only two New Zealand firms, one aH Auckland and the other at Dunediu, are interested in the employment of Japanese ships between Newcastle and New Zealand. Some of tho vessels at present engaged, it is understood, have been chartered for two, three, four, or even five trips. The employment of Japanese beats has not brought about a reduction in the freight rate between New Zealand and Newcastle, but it may have' had that effect in the Australian coastal trade. A freight as high as ,£3 per ton. between Australia and Now Zealand haa been demanded, but the average freight paid has been about £2 10s. a ion,aa against 255. per ton charged by the Union Steam Ship Company. Tho employment of Japanese vessels, when no others have been available, has certainly relieved tho coal position, in New Zealand, although it has made the coal expensive. The New Zeaand Seamen's Federation has already protested against the employment of Japanese steamers.! '