SEAMEN SOLID

Grey River Argus, 6 May 1933, Page 5

SEAMEN SOLID

AGAINST NEW CUT COMPANIES CALL For Non-Unionists (Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 5. A cail for free labour for the deck, engine, and providorc ratings for the Maunganui was made at 10 o’clock to-day. but did not meet with an immediate large response. About fifteen applicants turned up. Free labour is beieng engaged at the Clyde Quay wharf. which has been barricaded, and it is the intention to shift the Maunganui to it. The passengers will board the Maunganui at this wharf, which will be the point of departure, if the vessel is successful in obtaining a crew. There is a crowd of about 150 loiterers in the vicinity of the wharf gates, ami a large body of police is present. No strikers are being allowed on the wharf. rhe Union Company is concentrating on manning the Maunganui. which is tentatively fixed to sail at ten o’clock to-morrow morning. After the Maunganui, the Company will concentrate on the Picton boat, the Taniahine, and then on the Monowai.

SACK FOR ALL CREWS New Men to be Engaged AT 15 PER CENT LOWER RATES (P'‘r Press Association). WELLINGTON. May 5. Following on a fully attended meeting of the shipowners this morning, a statement was issued to the press. After setting out the position leading v.p to the present position, the shipown ers say that in view of the rejection of their proposals, tiny now intend to engage labour for the manning of the ships on conditions agreed upon with the Union executive, but also including a five per cent, reduction on the rates of pay ruling up to the. ('nd of last month. The rates now proposed, which arc compared to the Australian rates are: Boatswain: 1930 rate. £l6 4s; less 15 per cent. £l3 15s 6d per month; Aus tralian rate. £l2 14s 3d. A. 8.: 1930 rate, £l5 4s. less 15 pel cont. £l2 15s 6d; Australian rate £ll 16s 3d. Ordinary seamen: 1930 rate, £lO 9s; less 15 per cent. £S 17s 6d; Australian rate £7 8s 6d. Firemen: 1930 rate. £l7 4s; less 15 per cent. £l4 15s 6d; Australian rate £l3 12s 3d. Trimmers: 1930 rate. £l5 4s; less 15 per cent £l2 15s 61; Australian rate, £ll 16s 3d. The statement adds: —“In addition to these rates, seamen are found aboard ship.” The crews of all vessels will now be paid off as the vessels reach their homo ports, or reach convenient main ports; and thereafter, fresh crows are to be engaged on the new conditions, and at tho foregoing rates of pay. In tho case of the vessels which are now in ports other than their home ports, a proposal has been made to tho Union that each of these vessels should proceed direct to its home port under I the conditions ruling prior to May 1. ami should there be paid off.

GOVERNMENT NOT INTERVENING WELLINGTON, May 5. Tho Government has not taken any stops to intervene in the seamen’s dispute, but a very close watch is being kept. The Government has made itself conversant with the case of both sides FEW WELLINGTON SAILINGS. WATERSIDERS WORK. WELLINGTON May 5. The Union Company is understood to have a full crew for the Maunganiu, which leaves at ten a.m, tomorrow for Sydney. Included tn her passengers will be those who have hooked by the Monowai. Her northern passengers will arrive- at Wellington by the Limited express to-morrow. The Picton ferry service is to be resumed to-morrow, the Tamahinc leaving at 9 a.m|. for Picton, and returning I to Wellington to-morrow night. The waterside workers handled the cargo of all the vessels requiring labour J The cargi ships Poolta, Wainui, and Waimarino completed their discharge. They moved into the stream. Tho only vessels to leave Port, today were the Eangatira. the motor ship Gall the auxiliary scow Kohl and the Talisman. The Eangatira was an hour late in leaving. This was due to an extra amount of cargo being handled.

Non-Union Labour WELLINGTON CROWD. SHOW STRONG FEELING. WELLINGTON, May 5The most important development today in the maritime dispute was the decision of the shipowners to engage volunteer labour for their vessels. The Union Company called for labour to man the Maunganui, and they were successful, it is understood, in obtaining a full crew. In response to the call for volunteer

labour, between twenty and thirty men early presented themselves for engagement. These included University students, men out of work, and returned soldiers Those applying were signed on. They were told to report for duty at 2 p.m. No sign of interference from the affected parties was apparent until tho volunteers commenced to arrive on the Clyde Quay Wharf in the afternoon. There a crowd of several hundred people were congregated in the vicinity of the entrance to the wharf, to which berth the Maunganui had been moved earlier. The most serious aspect of the dispute occurred about mid day, when two volunteer seamen, after being signed on. were making their way by foot toward the city. They were violently assaulted by about a dozen men, who ha 1 left a large group surrounding the wharf entrance. Both men were vigorously manhandled, but the assailants soon desisted. Every precaution was taken by the Union Company and the police to ensure the safety of the crew which is to lake the Maunganui. The members of the crew arrived in taxis. Each car wa.s followed by another car carrying constables. There was some jeering. The crowd dispersed at nightfall.

ALLIANCE OF LABOUR. WELLINGTON, May 5. A meeting of the Alliance of Labour was held this morning. No statement wa.s available. Auckland Stoppage (Pep Press Association) AUCKLAND, May 5. Pending the result of tho seamen’s meetings, which began at 11 o’clock this morning, the coastal steamer Wingatui, which was to sail at 11 o’clock last night, is still in port, and the sailing time of tho Gabriella, which was to sail at noon for Westport, has been changed to 3 p.m. Intending passengers for Sydney have been notified to keep in touch with the local shipping office, pending arrangements being finalised for a special train to Wellington this afternoon. to connect with the steamer from Wellington. AUCKLAND MEN. SET UP STRIKE COMMITTEE. AUCKLAND. May 5. The seamen here at a meeting decided to set up a Strike Committee, ami also to notify the shipowners that the men would man the ships only on | the conditions that were in force prior to May ] MEN’S DECISION. A PRESS ASSOCIATION RE PORT CORRECTED. AUCKLAND. Al ay 5. The ex'tention of tho shipping strike of the Auckland branch was confirmed by a meeting of the Auckland Branch of the Federated Seamen’s Union to-day. No official announcement was made after the meeting, but it is learned that the decision of the men was to man the ships only under the conditions which were in force prior to May 1. Members of the Auckland Union said that, according to their advice their re;p>resentative at the meeting in Wellington had not been denied a hearing, as had been stated in the Press Association telegram), but. on contrary, he had been listened to attentively, Mr T. E. Anderson. Secretary of the Auckland Branch, left by train to-night' for Wellington. In accordance with the men’s decision, the Wingatui was not manned, and late to-night she was still lying at the wharf, waiting for a crew to take her to Portland. The only other coastal vessel in Auckland, apart from those owned by the Northern Company engaged on New Zealand Articles, is the Paua, which is loading - at the western wharf. All the Northern Companys’ vessels scheduled to sail to-day got away at their appointed time. The seamen engaged on these vessels work under slightly different conditions from those employed on the other coastal vessels.

Lyttelton Sackings

NON-UNION CREW FOR FERRY BOAT. CHRISTCHURCH, May 5. The crews of the Waikouaiti and Waikawa to-day refused the owners’ offer of reduced pay. They were all given 24 hours’ notice. The crew of the Holmglen also refused the owners’ terms, and they left the ship. Eventually the latter vessel sailed, being staffed only by the. officers and engineers. The ferry steamer Maori sailed at the scheduled time. The authorities were evidently uneasy about the ferry steamer, because police reinforcements from the city were on duty at the wharves. It is stated that tho Union Company had a complete relief crew ready Ito go on board the Maori in the event of trouble.

ARAHURA’S NON-UNION CREW. NELSON, May 5. The Arahura arrived at 10.1 C this morning, after a 12-1 hours’ trip from Wellington, with a volunteer crew. Just before sailing, tho stewards and cooks walked off, and 185 passengers had to find for themselves cups of tea. Breakfast was provided. NELSON WATERSIDERS STOP SCABBING. NELSON, May 5. Acting on instructions from Wellington, local watersiders refused to