THE IDLE FIREMEN.

Evening Star, Issue 15076, 7 January 1913, Page 4

THE IDLE FIREMEN.

The action of the ferry-boat firemen at Wellington has aroused indignation among local shipping men, who say that the pretext which the men have utilised is hopelessly paltry. In the shipping offices and in commercial rendezvous their action is put down to sheer obstinacy—at least, that is the mildest translation of their diatribes that a self-respecting newspaper can carry. It is said that the men are injuring the public a great deal more than the company, and in turn are injuring themselves by hurting the public, for the latter are bound to stifle any good feelings they might have had for a body of men who deliberately inconvenience them. This argument seems to hold water. It is also pointed out in this regard that 1 the company do not look upon the ferry service as a big revenue-producing venture, but that it is more a convenience for the public.

The "agitator” from the stokehold has a different and more lyrical tale to tell He opens by pointing'out that the 24 hours! not ' ce clause lias not been clearly explained to the public. It is as Jair to one side as to the other. Further, it is operative only at the port where tho articles were made out or at the port of a vessel’s final discharge. Take the Union Company's now steamer Mannganui. Supposing it was decided that tho firemen on her should go out. Her articles were, made out at Sydney, and her final port of discharge is (be thought) Dunedin. Well, those are the only two ports where'the 24hours’ notice machinery would be work able _ So that possibilities were not as farreaching as has been made out. Again supposing firemen were so plentiful that tlm engineer wanted to get rid of one of Lie stokers at Wellington . The stoker would either have to be kept till Svdnev or Dunedin was reached, or get bis passage paid to one of those ports. The Maori’s articles were made out at Wellington, ami the men were accordingly within the law in guing 24 hours’ notice there. Their action ns summed up by the firemen might a- likened to that of Shyiock in the ' Merchant 0 f leiueo,’ where it had to be- mini.(ted (even by a ,-second Daniel) that " the aw decreed it and the Court awarded it.” Ihol ress, nesaid, are held in odious view hy the men down under. Whenever firemen do anyrting wrong (such as gcllbm (hunk) (be Tress make a song about h.’ -yl- the unwholesome traditions of their cutss are insinuated against, them, and some glaring heading 'draws widespread dttenlioa to. their deli!iqueiic3\ ]f piwono eke—an officer, for instance—docs wrmm ho in treated as a fellow-citizen who has teinporanlylapsed. “Even in the courts,” fiaiu lie of the shovel, “being a fireman is as had as having any number of previous co; ; vie lions.'' The man who shovels diaiDonds into the .furnaooa of our traffic is judged to bo the last of men—an outcast. He is in another category, auoiiicr caste. _ Now, however, he v getting scarce, and in's, indispensability is becomum apparent He knows it. Still, however! he is looked upon as merely a convenience, and when lie does not go down below lo feud red-hot boilers people look upon him as a. sort of refractory dog that will not do what-it- is told. These were the last words of this fireman, hut another was met- with who knew something of history. Ihemcre stoker, he said, has at wavs borne Cm ) vllo!e theenrseof Cain by himself. “Things have been worked, that‘wn.v,” he explained. “ Some years ago, when-Vis fellows were plentiful, we were treated very roughly. I suffered myself, being boycotted for months and starved'info another hind of job. I’ve drifted back again, hut that don't- matter. Now we've got the whip handle, and why shouldn’t wo use it. We, are not out against the public. Wa don't think much on the subject of tli° public—neither for nor against—but I think we will let- the steamship-owners know a bit more about us before we're done.”

The reporter attempted to get- the stoker on to practical politics, and succeeded. “ What do you think of the 24 hours’ notice clause? Do you think it should be made a week?”—”! suppose a- week would bo just as good.”

What do you think about the proposal to legislate in favor of Inking on volunteer firemen in emergencies?—" Firing is an art.” he said, "and volunteer firemen would be worse than useless; Apart from the principle of the thing, a volunteer stoker would net only get roasted, but would probably put the lire out. It really takes a mau who lias had some experience to tire a boiler properly. A new hand would never get steam up." What sort of conditions do you work under?— Pretty rotten. Bm how do they compare with Homo boats?—-They are a paradise, then; but it is only by comparing them with such conditions that you .find any good points in them. Are you referring to the accommodation or the food? —To the accommodation. The food is not had, but often badly cooked. The reporter was then shown the weekly bill of faro, from which tho following extracts are made;— Sunday; Breakfast— Porridge, glided steak and onions, Irish stew. Dinner—Soup, roast beef or pork, potatoes, vegetables, plum pudding. Tea — Cold meat, pickles, potatoes. A fairly typical day's meal would be ; Breakfast— Porridge, chops, curry and rice. Dinner— Soup, boiled mutton, potatoes, rice pudding. Tea—Cold meat, stewed steak, potatoes. MR BELCHER'S YIEWS ON THE FERRY HOLD-UP AND THE CAUSES OF IT. .A DELICATE SITUATION.

It, was with extreme reluctance that Mr AY. Belcher, secretary of the Federated Seamen's Union of New Zealand, consented to speak to a ‘Star’ reporter to-day on the Welhngton-Lyttclton ferry service hold-up, but when he got going his remarks -were plain and to the point. The trouble now existing in Wellington with regard to the refusal to work by tiromen, ho said. Iras been attributed to certain disparaging remarks that have boon made from time to time by the. Press and the Press Association. Very severe condemnation has been made from lime to time about these men. regarding their conduct, awl, in some cases, their misconduct, and no effort has been spared to make them appear ns about the worst class of men on the face of the earth. It is freely admitted that there are some firemen who misconduct themselves, and who arc ns a rule duly punished for their misconduct. But there arc numerous cases where, because men happen to absent themselves from duty for a fear hours, or even for a day, the punishment handed out has altogether exceeded any penalty for similar offences by workmen in other industries. The shipping laws are the most stringent in the world, and men have been made to pay the full penalty laid down by law. For instance, quite recently two .men on board a locally-owned vessel were prosecuted by Captain Neville at the Bluff, and were ordered to pay a fine of £2 and costs, or in default one month in gaol. The men elected to go to gaol. There is no other person on earth who would he subjected to such an indignity and such a severe sentence for the- trivial offence of being absent from duty without leave. For some time past there has been continual irritation among the men with regard to the excessive punishment that has been meted out to them both by magisrates and masters. This has undoubtedly had some effect in the direction of causing the deplorable and unfortunate trouble ,mhich now jHdstStftk Wellington.

THEIR ACTION CRITICISED. A STOKER’S APOLOGIA.

Regarding that particular aspect of the question, it must be borne in mind (while everyone regrets and deplores the inconvenience now being caused to the general travelling_ public) that the point of endurance is sometimes reached even bv firemen; and that these men, who arc evidently of some necessity to the community (although they are sometimes, treated as though they were other than human beings) have come to the conclusion that they will resent the adverse aspersions mad© about them. I lie travelling public do not seem to worry their heads as to the merits or otherwise of the men’s complaint. Tho are only concerned as to how they are going to get from one place to another, and it seems to he the vogue to cast all the responsibility for the trouble upon (lie unfortunate fellow who su eats and toils in tho bowels of the ship whi!e_ other people are nicely ensconced in their well-appointed bunks. It is. of course, impossible to get the general public to understand these tilings 'and it ifi only when a body of men have made up their minds to insist upon a certain thin" being done that the community begin to lea I isc tho veal usefulness o£ the muchdespised fireman.

Jhe question as to what has given rise to the present hold-up at Wellington need not be labored. The men have asked that certain things should bo done—nameiv an apology from the Press Association agent who disseminated the story that the men on iiie Maori had held her up for increased "ageiq when it was well known that the excursion to Picton was abandoned through .slices oi weather. It is certainly true that an apology was given, but the men, for reasons besu known to themselves, now demand the publication of tho name of tho agent. .1 hat in the men’s conclusion, and, ns far as 1 can see, nothing will induce them to resume work unless that is don© -Now, if the general public desire tbeir convenience to bo served in the ordinary mannci, they have only to bring sufficient pressuio to. boar upon the Press Association, winch, after all, is not of as much public utility as mail boats and trains, to meet the demands of the men and disclose the name of the person who disseminated the story. Personally. I believe .if that'were done tho men now holding up things could bo induced to return to their duties. It is only a very simple matter, and tho Press Association, notwithstanding journalistic etiquette, might, give up that name. .Meanwhile. tho Seamens Union are receiving all the obloquy and hard knocks in connection with the matter, but. they absolutely refuse to shoulder the responsibility. The public could shoulder it on to the Press Association.

Inei'e seems to he a large amount of misconception as to tho legal rights of the men in leaving their vessels. Well, the law as to quitting- or being quitted from a vessel in New Zealand is that, provided 24 hours’ notice on either side is given, the master, as representative of the owner, has the right to discharge a man, and a man, on tho ether hand, has the right to demand his quittance at the final pert of discharge, ’that is clearly stated on the agreement which is signed in the- first instance, raid it has been found to be the fali’est. the most equitable agreement ever brought into existence ns far as seamen are concerned. It lias been, to my own knowledge, in operation in New Zealand for the last 25 years, and no exception has ever been taken to it. It is not- only a matter of Constitutional law, but it is also a matter of agreement between (he shin owner and the seamen. It is therefore rather curious that after all these years of the operation of a law which lias been fair and square, certain people should be now bowling in the newspapers for an alteration of the time of notice. It is suggested by some people, who apparently know very little about the matter, that because a domestic servant or a person engaged on shore employment must give a week’s notice before quitting, a similar agreement should be applied to tbo seamen. There is really no analogy between tho two kinds of employment, and if the Government be persuaded to alter the present- conditions of the law, and if they intend to make conditions involving tho giving of a week's notice, all I can say is there will he trouble in the “amen” corner so far a* ship owners are concerned. It has been u recognised custom, which has stood for 25 vears. and it is not in any circumstances going to be broken, notwithstanding the fact that there is a possibility of (ho Government in power making such alteration. If such an alteration is contemplated it will be a signal. I believe, for the stoppage* of every bit of transport work in [ New Zealand.

These statements are not made as idle threats. It will be to the advantage. I think, of those persons who are advocating these changes to ease up on their illconsidered. sarcastic remarks about seamen and the laws which govern them. What 1 would suggest is this: that the general public, should endeavor to obtain a little information as to what the. conditions of firemen really are, and the laws which govern them (which are certainty most drastic, and almost opposed to human liberty), and give seamen an opportunity of working out their own salvation. They are a class of men who. with all their faults, are essential to the well-being of the Empire. They follow, the most dangerous occupation there is in the world. For proof of that one lias only to scan the newspapers and see the end of poor Jack. It is true that lie is having a bit of a holiday just now', but he surely has as much right as other people to enjoy a holiday when lie feels disposed to take it. and if other people are put to inconvenience through him taking the holiday, it is no move than the shops being closed from Christmas until after New Year’s Day. A lot of people are after the scalp of the unfortunate fireman and sailor, but in my opinion it. will be a long time before they have it to adorn their wigwam.

Personally I know other officers of the union along with myself deplore the hold-up of the vessels. We have done all that has been possible to induce the men to resume their duties. The men, however, are masters of the situation. That has to be borne in upon the general public, who in future may see that it is advisable to have a consideration for, and more sympathy with, those men who drag them from one place to another. It might also be safe for tiro Press Association to have a little less hostile comment to make upon these men ; otherwise the men will probably demand something more than an apology from the Press Association. AN ULTIMATUM. ACTION FOR- SLANDER THREATENED. TWO STEAMERS TO SAIL TO-NIGHT. [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, January 7. In connection with the trouble on the Maori a meeting of seamen, held last evening, unanimously passed a resolution giving the Press Association until 12 o’clock on Wednesday to submit an .apology, with the signature of the person who sent the. message to the association office, in the first instance; failing that, that the union’s solicitors be instructed to proceed against the Press Association by lodging a writ claiming damages for slander. The Maori is now tied up at the Clyde quay wharf, and the question of paying o3 all the crew is being considered hy the company. There will, it is understood, bo no difficulty about the service to-night. Both the Mararoa and Mokoia will, it is expected, be able to get array at the regular sailing, tixne.