THE GAUNTLET DOWN

Evening Star, Issue 18999, 22 July 1925, Page 12

THE GAUNTLET DOWN

MANNING OF THE WAIPORI (Pek United Press Association.] GREYMOUTH, July 21. The dispute over the manning of the stokehold of the Union Company’s steamer Waipori, which has existed since July 2, reached a deadlock today, when the company, replying to alternative proposals for a settlement advanced by the unionists, issued an ultimatum to the effect that unless the vessel wore taken to sea on to-night’s tide by the original manning the company proposed taking steps to man the ship. The firemen, five of whom are in prison for refusing to sail, demanded originally the provision of two trimmers The assistant secretary of the Seamen’s Union (Mr Howell, of Wellington) later submitted alternative proposals, cither to put two of tiio ship’s greasers on trimming, with the addition of a third trimmer, or increase the manning by one trimmer, to be exclusively ivorked by day trimming sufficient for the night watches. All the seamen unionists on the Waipori regard the company as throwing down the gauntlet, and consequently have resolved that if non-unionists are brought to man the vessel they will refuse duty, taking the consequences. Moreover, the firemen’s original demands for two trimmers have now been reinstated.

It is expected tho company will bring some of its permanent hands overland to man the Waipori in the course of a couple of days.