MARITIME UNREST

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10473, 31 December 1927, Page 9

MARITIME UNREST

STOP-WO lUK MEET! NG

MEN TO LOSE WAGES

CREW LEAVE AND NO RESPONSE TO FILL VACANCIES.

(United Press Assn. —Copyright.) SIDNEY, Doc. 30. Trouble lias arisen out of the decision of the seamen to hold a stopwork meeting on Wednesday without tire sanction of the owners. Under the Navigation Act it is provided that men absent from their ship without leave shall have two days pay deducted from their wages. The owners are taking steps to enforce that provision.

Eight members of the crew of the Australian United Steam Navigation Co.’s steamer Maekarra gave notice on Wednesday and left the vessel yesterday. There was no response- to a call for men- to fill the vacancies. A further call will be made to-day. Then, ij members of the Seamen's Union still refuse to oiler the remainder of the crew will he paid oil and the.Maekarra laid up indefinitely.—D.P. A'.

UNDER PRES.SUKJ

UNION INSISTS ON BOATSWAIN "LEAVING JOB.

REFUSES RE-EMPLOYMENT BY

COMPANY

EMPLOYERS CLAIM BOYCOTT

SYDNEY. On 30

The Commonwealth Shipp) .g Line offered re-employment to the boatswain who was dismissed by the union but be declined to accept the work. The company’s statement regarding the ease presumes that the man acted under pressure from the union, not being disposed to ask for trouble as be probably know that if he bad offered to sign on lie would have been disciplined. It quotes a previous similar case where a man who was .sticking by the owners was dismissed from membership of the union and afterwards found it impossible to obtain employment on vessels on the Australian register. The statement Haims that the action taken by the union in the boatswain’s case amounts to a complete boycott by the union of all -hip-ping in Australia. NUT RE-ENGAGEI).

STEWARDS WHO REFUSED TO SERVE REGATTA LUNCH.

OWNERS' FIRM ATTITUDE

SHIP TO BE LAID UP IF YACAN Cl ES NOT FILLED.

SYDNEY. Dee. 39. In accordance with the usual procedure, the entire <_rc»v of the Commonwealth Line steamer Moreton Bay was signed oil’ at the conclusion of their engagements. All hands were re-engaged except CO stewards, who refused to serve the regatta luncheon on Monday, and were dismissed.

The stewards subsequently held a meeting,’ at which it was decided to make representations to have the men reinstated. Officials of the union interviewed the management, but a demand for reinstatement was refused.

A member of the Commomvea 1 h Shipping Board stated that if other stewards refused to offer for engagement to-day, the directors would have no option but. to pay rift' the crow and lay the vessel up.— I . I’.A.

DISPUTE TAXES SERIOUS TURN

TWO VESSELS LAID US'

(Received Doe. 30, 9.0-3 p.m.) ■ SVUNKV, Dw. 30. The dispute between tile shipowners and seamen over the stepwovk meeting lias taken a serious turn. When a call was made lor a crew lor the steamer Alnknrra. there was no response, and the owners tied the vessel up indefinitely. Similar trouble . was experienced when the owners of the steamer Saros called for a crew, and the cargo of that vessel was translerred to another steamer of the same line.

Although the outlook is gloomy, the seamen being determined on reprisals, so far there is no suggestion of passenger steamers in port becoming immediately involved. — U.P.A.