THE EFFECT OF THE NEW ZEALAND AWARD.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 141, 11 December 1902, Page 6

THE EFFECT OF THE NEW ZEALAND AWARD.

The question is being asked — "How wonld the New Zealand members of the Australasian Federated Seamen's Union be affected if a general strike .was ordered by the Executive?" In the strike of 1890 the men on the New Zealand coastal trade were ordered out by the New Zealand Executive. Mr. W. T. Young, the Secretary of the Wellington section of the Australian Federation, says that under the award of the Arbitration Court the New Zealand members would have to remain neutral, but they could contribute to the strike funds as heavily as they pleased.- He pointed out, however, that whilst the union in New Zealand could not order its men to strike under a £500 penalty for breach of award, the men could individually leave the boats after giving twenty-four hours' notice. On the other hand, Mr. W. Jones, the Secretary of the New Zealand Federation — which has no connection with the Australian Federation — expressed the opinion that he saw nothing in the award to prevent New Zealand seamen joining in the strike. He quoted the following clause (39) of the industrial award : — " Twenty-four hours' notice on either side shall be the law of discharge in the port where the ship has drawn out her articles, bat should the ship be laid up at any other port of the Australasian Colonies the. crew may accept their discharge with wages then due, but shall be entitled to a free passage back to the final port. Engagements may be determined in the colony at any time after the ship's arrival at her final port of discharge in the colony, consequent on the completion of a round by twenty-four hours' notice on either side, all notices to be given to or received from the master of the ship only. Any man discharged at any place other than the port where the articles are drawn out shall be given a passage back by the first vessel proceeding to the home port or to the place at which the man shipped. But should a man be discharged at his own request he shall not be entitled to a passage back to his port of shipment or to the port where the articles were drawn ouf^" Acting under instruction} from their* Executive, the New Zealand seamen gave twenty-four hours' notice before coming out of the boats in 1890.