VESSELS HELD UP

Northern Advocate, 3 May 1933, Page 6

VESSELS HELD UP

MAUNGANUI AND MONOWAI COMPANY AND SEAMEN RETICENT. NO OFFICIAL STATEMENT.

(Per Press Association.— Copyright.) WELLINGTON, This Day. : The mail liner Mannganui, which was-due to sail at 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon for Sydney, in continuation of her voyage from San Francisco, is held up. ■ Other vessels delayed include the liner 'Monowai, which was scheduled to leave at 8 o’clock last ■ evening for Auckland and Sydney. Officials of the shipping companies and the Seamen’s Union are reticent as to the nature of the trouble. The' Arahura, Waimarino, Orepuki, Tees and Awahou are also held up. The Arahura should have sailed at 7.30 last evening for Nelson, and all passengers . were on board before it became certain that her departure would have to : be postponed. However, the ferry steamer Maori * sailed for Lyttelton at 9 o’clock, and several other boats were, also . despatched. Two leading officials of the Seamen’s Union refused to admit any knowledge - ,of anything in the nature of a hold-up. It is known, however, that a meeting ./ pf the Seamen’s Union was held earlier ‘in the day to discuss a provisional ' agreement regarding pay and condi- ■ Hons arrived at between the shipping companies and the executive of the union. No official statement is avail- -• able as to the outcome of the meeting, but it is stated that a vote of noconfidence in the executive of the union was carried. / i Negotiations between the shipping • companies and the Seamen’s Union re- ■;) garding the Mannganui and the Monoy ‘ wai were carried on until a late hour ; last night. A meeting of the union ' was called for 8 o’clock this morning.

V PROTRACTED NEGOTIATIONS.

PROVISIONAL AGREEMENT

(Per Press Association. —Copyright.) WELLINGTON, This Day,

Last year, after protracted negotiations between the Seamen’s Union and • the Shipowners’ Federation, a provisional agreement was reached, pfo- ‘ - viding for a 10 per cent, “cut” in the

•wages of seamen and firemen, to oper- . ate as from November l.last. The former agreement, •which expired at the ... end of August, was not subject to the > general order by which employees in other industries had their wages reducby 10 per cent. V • The owners proposed a 20 per cent, ■.-/“cut,” but this was reduced after negotiations to 10 per cent. Further negotiations were finalised last month, f- when a new provisional agreement was X reached, providing for a further 5 per •;■ cent, “cut” to operate on May 1. This .v;.-'agreement was the result of negotiations by the owners with executive offi- . eers of the Seamen’s Union, and the ‘ owners notified the union that it would operate from yesterday.

NOTHING FRESH. f . SEVEN BOATS AFFECTED. s (Special to "NorMiern Advocate.") '■ WELLINGTON, This Day. No further developments occurred this morning in connection with the !. ' dispute which developed yesterday bev tween the Seamen’s Union and the shipping companies. - Members of the union assembled at , "a meeting at 11 o’clock today, and the v meeting is still proceeding. Vessels which should'have l(sft Weiv lington yesterday, or this morning, are still at the wharves, as follows:—Mau- ' nganui, IJlonowai, Arahura, Tees, Awa- : lion, Orepuki and Kapuni. • vALL QUIET AT LYTTELTON. ■ (Per Prpps Association.—Coovrleht.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. There has been no spread of the shipping trouble to Lyttelton, and all work at this port is proceeding. v. \ v - FOUR DUE TO SAIL. (Per Press Association.—CnnyrlpM.) F DUNEDIN, This Day. The local secretary of the Seamen’s Union has no advice of the hold-up, and the coastal vessels Waipiata, Storm, Opihi and Holmglen are . scheduled to' sail to-night.