LABOR DEADLOCK

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 19 June 1913, Page 7

LABOR DEADLOCK

WANGANUI, June 19. The deadlock in connection with the Putiki still continues. Last evening the seamen promised to sign articles, but when approached this morning, only two signed, six refusing on the grounds that Wellington was not a port" for signing off, as provided by the articles. It is understood that the agents have sent to Wellington for men to replace the re£u.S6TS WANGANUI, June 19. In regard to the deadlock on the Putiki (the crew of which refused to sign fresh articles) the men state that the steamer has not been in Wellington for three months and may not be there for another six months, but notwithstanding this the articles the men1 are asked to sign specify Wellington as the terminal port, and the men hold that the Act provides that when a ship has cempleted her round trip the terminal port iis the last port reached, which in the present instance is Wanganui. The seamen contend that their position is based on the fact that if an accident occurred to one of their number between the date fixed as the termination of the articles and the actual time of signing off no damages could be claimed from the company. The Collector of Customs has inforomed the seamen chat their action is contrary to law.