KAIMIRO DISPUTE

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 May 1938, Page 6

KAIMIRO DISPUTE

FIREMAN’S DISMISSAL. [per press association.] AUCKLAND. May 17. In support of their claim that a fireman on their ship had been dismissed without a satisfactory explanation, the members of the crew of the Union Company’s coastal steamer, “Kaimiro,” have refused to take her to sea from Auckland. Following on a decision reached by them on the previous day. the “Kaimiro” was held at her berth to-day. and no time has yet been fixed for her departure for Westport. Negotiations between the Company and the representatives of the Seamen’s'Union and the crew were opened. They will be continued in the morning, when, it is considered there will be some line of action reached. Officers of the Labour Department vis-

ited the “Kaimiro” in an endeavour to secure a settlement. It is not expected that any other of the Company’s ships will be affected. Assertions were made by the crew 7 that, during the “Kaimiro’s” voyage from "Wellington to Auckland, the fireman w'as given notice of dismissal without any explanation. He was later informed that his dismissal was the result of an action regarded by the crew as being trivial, and which the fireman contended, was not based on any provision of the Shipping and Seamen’s Act.

The Union Company held that, under the provisions of the Act, an eng|agement might be terminated, on either side, by 24 hours’ notice, without the necessity of any explanation. Endeavours were made by the Company to have the fireman replaced. They were unsuccessful, and the crewi refused to sail without a man. There was a subsequent offer by the Company that the fireman should stay w’ith the “Kaimiro” for the dispute to be investigated at Wellington. This did not meet with the approval of the crew, who claimed his unconditional reinstatement. 1