SHIPPING TROUBLE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 4 December 1922, Page 5

SHIPPING TROUBLE

MEETING OE AUCKLAND SEAMEN (United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day, A meeting of the local branch .fifth© Seamen’s Union was hold to-day. There is no official information, _ but it is understood the meeting decided to 'continue the present policy, refusing to sign up with free labour. NO CHANGE IN WELLINGTON WELLINGTON, This Day ~ In view of the pi’osecution of seamen fo ralleged striking the secretary of the Federated Cooks’ and Stewards’ Union has written to the Labour Department asking whether the department will investigate the fact that notice was given to members of the union with a view to taking proceedings agains tthe Union Company for an alleged lockout. There* is no change otherwise. IN AUSTRALIA (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.)

SYDNEY, Dec. 2.

The shipping trouble, which previously was confined to the Union Company, entered a new phase so far as New Zealand is concerned. The Huddar Parker’s Ulimarna, scheduled to leave at noon, is held up. It is stated that the trouble arose through the discharge of engineers, who regarded the men as unsuitable. 'Hie seamen’s Union declined to allow other men to fill the vacancies, and conferences between representatives of the ■owners, engineers, and seamen have proved abortive so far. .Among the large number of passengers were MacLaren’s cricket team. SYDNEY, Dec. 3. The Ulimaxoa’s passengers left the ship as the intervention of Sunday prevented giving the crew the necessary twenty-four hours’ notice, which it is understood was the Company’s intention. Developments are expected tomorrow. The steamer had everything f in readiness to depart for sea when the tie-up occurred. -• h SYDNEY, Tliis Day. In connection with the sailing of the ■ Makura. which is stated^- to be largely manned by stranded Rritish seamen, the local seamen much disgust and anger. The trouble is the outcome of a rupture between the English and Australian seamen’s organisations arising from the refusal of the latter to allow crews which manned the Commonwealth liners from England to become members of the Australian creation and work ships back to England. ' Local shipowners claim that the rush of ’men to man the Makura disclosed the fact that ample free labour is available to place all the idle vessels in commission. The * probability is <that unless the' Seamen’s Union displays a more reasonable attitude the extension free labour manning will shortly be inaugurated. Much distress is existent among waterfront employees of the various classes and they are allegedly simmering with discontent over the way the position has been allowed to develop. There are rumours of* the likelihood of a breakaway from union control. It has been explained that the English seamen stranded in ..Sydney through the Seamen’s'Union barring their admission were on the verge of being repatriated at the expense of the Commonwealth. - A condition of the repatriation of distressed seamen is that (there must be no work offering in the port where stranded. It is contended that when the Union Company 'lnvited volunteers to join the Makura the English seamen had no alternative hut to accept, irrespective' of what their inclination was. •