SHIPS' OFFICERS ON STRIKE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3338, 3 October 1911, Page 5

SHIPS' OFFICERS ON STRIKE.

TROUBLE IN WELLINGTON. COASTAL SERVICE HUNG UP. [FEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.! WELLINGTON, Oct- 2. In consequence of the mates of severu coastal steamers ceasing work in accordance with the notice given on turday, the vessels are at present lung up. The owners are now sitting in ceiference to consider the position.

' THE POSITION IN AUCKLAND, ARBITRATION AWARD NOT WANTED. ISPECIAE TO TIMES 1 AUCKLAND, Oct. 3 The strike of ship®’ officers in Wellington, oriel the consequent hanging up of the Wellington coastal fleet, has aroused the keenest interest in shipjing circles in Auckland, and there is a-pood deal of speculation as to what may lappen here in the course of the next few days. .. One of the best-known officer's an tiro Auckland coastal fleet was. interviewed this morning and asked whether he ’ thought there was a- possibility of a strike here in sympathy with -the Wellington officers. Tie said it was impossible to say what would happen. A claim for an award respecting the Auckland coastal service had been filed nndei the Arbitration Act, and was to have tome before the Court during the present sitting, but ships’ officers all through the Dominion were so disgusted with the arbitration court award in Wellington that he believed the officers in Auckland would seek to withdraw oheir claim for an award here. In fact he knew that the course had been adrised by Captain Watson (secretary of the Merchant Service Guild). It was, he declared, absolutely beyond his comprehension as to how the court could nave declared that it was a fair thing for officers to work 20 hours out of 48. and they wanted less than that, but evidently the arbitration court thought they should work more. Further, feeling had been mining very high for some time amongst the officers of one line of coastal steamers because of the action of the Company in appointing an outsider to one of the best posts in the service. A meeting of officers had been called to consider the desirability of taking drastic action in the matter, but unanimity as to _ the course to be taken had not prevailed. Hitherto officers of the Auckland coastal fleets have worked under a. private agreement. This expired in March last and recently a claim for an award was entered by the Merchant Service Guild against various local Companies, demanding the following rates of pay on vessels up to 1000 tons: —Chief officer £lB, second officer £l4, 3rd officer £l2. A fortnight’s annual leave on full pay; an eight hours’ working dav, overtime at 2s 6d per hour; os per clay for victualling allowance where meals ar© not provided; overtime for excursions on ' public holidays, and preference to members of the Guild were also asked for in the award. The award asked for in Wellington was on very much the same basis, and as the Wellington coastal officers failed to get what they asked for, it is likely that an effort will be made to have ; the. above claim,on behalf of the Auckland coastal officers withdrawn. A “Star” representative learned from reliable authority this morning, that at a meeting of the Auckland Seamen’s Union held on Saturday evening, it .was decided to apply for the cancellation of their certificate of registration. There were, it is stated, only from five to■ six hundred financial members which comprises the Union. The assistant secretary (Mr Murtro) left for Wellington last night, where he Is to meet the general secretary, and it would appear that the Dunedin • g>nd Auckland unions are working, in Sympathy with the officers in Wellingon. The Auckland Union’s agreement with the shipowners expired twelve ' months ago last March, and apparently no fresh terms of agreement have been submitted. UNLESS THE TROUBLE IS > / , SETTLED. I ATTITUDE OF THE ANCHOR [ COMPANY. NELSON, Oct. 2Unless the coastal shipping trouble is settled within two or three days, it is probable that the whole of the Anchor fleet will bo laid up. The company has arranged- for the--completion of several trips, but all vessels on their return to Nelson! will he laid up pending a settle- ' ment. t ; . ■ . - ( '■ It is rumored -that, the Union’ Cto’s officers may strike in sympathy, tilth those on the small vessels, althdujgh they are not affected by the Arbitration - Court award. , 1