SEAMEN AND STOP WORK MEETINGS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 24 August 1922, Page 3

S EAMEN AND STOP WORK MEET—INGS

“As a shipowner,’’ declared a witness i.n ihe seamen's dispute before the Arbitration Court at Wellington on Monday, “I must, protest emphatically against the proposal for slop work meetings for seamen.” It was highly necessary, he said, that vessels mule;' ste;qn should he kept under supervision, and therefore the employers opposed the idea, if should he possible lor ■ the union to arrange its meetings at hours which would not interfere with the tending of the vessels, and for a certain number of limit to he exempted and tu remain aboard. The insertion of a provision in the award allowing ■.stop-work meetings for seamen would hid ni the small companies especially, as absence of the crew would prevent vessels from leaving at short notice accordhig to tides and the slate of the oars Air M. J. Reardon, the employer?’ assessor on the court, sa’id that, if (lie concession was given to the waterside workers- the seamen could br.rfliy be refused ihe sftme right, It was stated that in Napier the whole work of the port -was hole! up while *Le watevsiders held their meetings, and the seamen had to stand by idle under pay. The' witness thought day might be selected for the meetings op which there was very little shipping to he worked. The idea of holding a 'meeting while, there was pressure of business on the waterfront was absurd. There were frequent slack days on which meetings could be held.