SHIPPING DISPUTE.

Grey River Argus, 19 January 1922, Page 4

SHIPPING DISPUTE.

SHORTAGE OF MEN. WELLINGTON, January 16. A dispute regarding the stokehold complement of the Chatham Island Fishing Company’s steamer Rama has led to the withdrawal of the vessel from the coastal trade. “The Rama is being withdrawn from the coastal trade,” stated Afr E. G. F. Zohrab, the agent for the vessel, to a reporter, “because of the demands of the Seamen’s Union that she should carry three more men in the stokehold than are required, either by law or by the requirements of the vessel herself. Such mn are in nowise necessary, as the ship is a very easy steaming job, and the owners have decided to lay her up rather than accede to the excessive demands of the Seamen’s Union. The time has passed when owners can afford to pay six men to do three men’s work. ’ ’ CASE FOR THE MEN. Air AV. T. Young (secretary of the Seamen’s Union) stated that the vessel had always carried six men in the engine department, as originally arranged when she was altered after being purchased by her present owners. When recommissioned, provision was made in her accommodation for six men, and when in running three firemen and three greasers signed on, but after making a trip to the Chatham Islands, the firemen reported that the work was altogether too heavy for three men, as a good deal of difficulty was experienced in trimming the bunkers. As a result, three greasers were dispensed with, and three trimmers engaged. Since then the vessel had been running with three firemen and three trimmers. “Now,” added Mr Young, “the management point out that they have made some alteration in the bunkers, which makes the trimming more convenient, and thus reduces the work of the firemen. On account of that fact, they desire to do away with the three trimmers. On the other hand, the men contend that the three men should be transferred back as greasers, in accordance with the original arrangement, thus leaving the ship with the original six men. The company refused to do this. The ship is now out in the stream, and as far as I’m concerned she can remain there.”