UNQUALIFIED CREWS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 26, 31 January 1923, Page 6

UNQUALIFIED CREWS

REINSTATEMENT OF ACT

PRIME MINISTER ASKED" TO MOVE.

The reinstatement of the Shipping and Seamen's Act, and the alleged violation of the clauß© relating to the employment of unqualified crews was discussed at the concluding session of the Alliance of Labour yesterday.

At the conclusion of the meeting the secretary (Mr. J. Roberts) announced that the alliance lad discussed the suspension of the Act and also reports given jby the representatives of the Senmen's Union. The latter had stated that although the Prime Minister promised the Seamen's Union that when the dispute was over the Shipping Act would be reinstated, this had not been done, for several vessels were still "operating up and down thfl coasts with unqualified crews.

The conference carried the following resolution: —

"This conference of the Alliance of Labour emphatically protests any further suspension of the Shipping and Seamen Act, which is in operation in regard to certain vessels, notwithstanding the fact that the Prime Minister promised that as soon as the seamen's dispute was settled the Shipping and Seamen Act would be reinstated. We submit there is no justification for permitting unqualified labour to remain in the ship* v-hen qualified seamen of all classes are available. Qualified men should be shipped at the first available port in order to safeguard the Jives and property of the general public. We say this by reason of the fact that we are given to understand that there has been no boat drill by the free labour crews during the recent dispute, and on certain vessels not up to the present time, and the public can readily understand the consequences in case of an accident at sea on vessels manned by crews who have no knowledge whatever of handling lifeboats. We therefore call on the Prime Minister to carry out the promise given to .the seamen, and to reinstate ihe Shipping Act'and make it apply to all vessels without further delay."