SEAMEN'S UNION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 8 September 1923, Page 7

SEAMEN'S UNION.

DISPUTE AT NEWCASTLE,

FREE LABOUR ENGAGED.

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WELLINGTON, Sep. 7. The New Zealand Seamen's Union has been advised by the Australian Union that, owing to a dispute which occurred at Newcastle, the New Zealand Shipping Co.'s steamer Piako engaged free labour for her stokehold crew there. The ship is due here tomorrow.

The dispute arose out of a demand by the original crew shipped in England, demanding Australian rates of pay because the vessel was bringing coal to New Zealand. Therefore they contended she was engaging in the intercolonial trade. The owr^s refused to pay the additional rates. The objectors refused to take the ship. to sea and were sentenced to imprisonment. The Australian and New Zealand unions object to this allegedly unfair competition by a vessel paying less than the Australian and New Zealand rates of wages.

The ease has been referred to the Minister for Marine, and a deputation will see him on his return to Wellington. The Alliance of Labour considered the matter and decided to ask the Minister to extend the provisions of section 75 of the Shipping and Seamen's Act of 1908, providing that a vessel carrying cargo or passengers between New Zealand and Australia shall pay the crew not less than the New Zealand rate of wages while so employed.