SEAMENS STRIKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7863, 4 February 1887, Page 5

SEAMENS STRIKE.

Yesterday the seaman, Joseph Winter, who assaulted Captain Johnson, of the s.s. Glenelg, on Monday evening last, was arrested by Sergeant Clark, and brought up at the Police Court. The hearing of the case was adjourned until this morning, the defendant being admitted to bail. Yesterday morning Mr. Ellison, the secretary of the Seamen's Union, received a telegram from the secretary of the head office at Dunedin, to the effect that if the Northern Company persist in keeping men on board whilst the vessels are in harbour, they (the ctmpany) must give the men some equivalent, either in cash or in a reduction of hours of labour. Respecting the s.s. Douglas the settlement of that question was left entirely to the Auckland branch as they deemed best. Mr. Ellison, with two delegates of the Seamen's Union, during the day, waited upon Captain McGregor, the managing director of the Northern Steamship Company, and informed that gentleman of the tenor of the telegrams received from Dunedin. In reply Captain McGregor informed the deputation that he declined to make any concession respecting the staying of the crews on board his vessel whilst in harbour, and he considered such a request most unreasonable, and pointed oat that under the Merchant Shipping and Seamen's Act any man who left a vessel on which he was engaged without permission, at any time, was regarded as a deserter. For the proper preservation of the company's property, he considered that some of the crew should remain on board, not necessarily that they should be kept on watch, but so that they would be immediately available should emergency require them. Captain McGregor felt that the question in dispute had not been correctly represented at headquarters at DunediD, otherwise he was sure a different answer would have been sent Upon this question nothing further could be done. As to what steps the Union will take with the s.s. Douglas is not at present known. The deputation having - thanked Captain McGregor then withdrew.