TRADE UNION POLICY

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 4 September 1935, Page 8

TRADE UNION POLICY

Unanimous Recommendation by Officers of the Merchant Navy BETTER CONDITIONS WANTED DISCIPLINE NOT ENDANGERED (United Vreaa Association —By Btectrio Xefegrepb Copyright i. Received 2.30 p.m. to-day. LONDON, Sept. 3. Ttie council of officers of the Merchant Navy Federation unanimously recommended the adoption of a trade union policy as the logical result of the failure of the Government shipping industry to heed their reasonable representations. The report emphasises that although many individual shipowners are prepared to offer more generous conditions, they are dominated by machines formulating the policy. The report adds that trade unionism will not endanger discipline, as the British seaman is a truer supporter of discipline than the average. British shipowners. Tyranny of some form, although possibly without intent, resulted in a falsification of log books, overloading and unjustifiable claims upon underwriters. Officers serving in good companies were most unlikely ever to bo called on to lay up, but such officers’ support was essential, as_ they would be assisting good owners in an unfair contest against cheese parers and Repressers of freight rate. The federation’s Parliamentary committee supports the policy which federated organisations overseas, including Australia and New Zealand, accepted.