IN NEW ZEALAND PORTS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 51, 28 August 1925, Page 7

IN NEW ZEALAND PORTS

WILSON REPUDIATED AT AUCKLAND. (BY TELEGRAPH. —PP.ES3 ASSOCIATION) AUCKLAND, 27th August. There appears to be no sign of a ' settlement of the seamen's strike on British steamers at Auckland, although the trouble has not extended to other vessels than those already affected. Both sides in the dispute maintain a firm nnd uncompromising attitude, and statements issued .by both parties today indicate that no efforts have been made in the direction of conciliation. A meeting of about 100 British seamen was held to-night, when consideration was given to the following cable- ■ gram received -from Mr. Havelock Wilson, president of the National Seamen and Firemen's Union of Great Britain and Ireland:—"Strongly advise crews to carry on their duties and fulfil agreement. Any grievances can be settled on their return by National Maritime Board. Do not be led away, but be loyal to your leaders." After discussion the meeting carried the following resolution:—" We, members of crews of British ships in the port of Auckland, emphatically repudiate Mr. Havelock Wilson. We further resolve not to recognise him as our leader, and to carry on our struggle for a living wage —namely, that no ships will be manned until we get an agreement that our wage* will not be reduced." Tha attitude of the men was exemplified in the afternoon in the case of the Kent, which was timed to sail at noon for Wellington. The crew walked ashore, with the result that the vessel was sent to aa anchorage in the stream. An unexpected change in the position is the decision of the Arab firemen on the Benicia to join the ranks of the strikers again. Three new oversea steamers to arrive at Auckland have not been affected by the dispute. They are the Maimyo, the West Nivariaj and the Erviken.