UNEQUAL COMPETITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14491, 4 October 1910, Page 6

UNEQUAL COMPETITION.

MARINE ENGINEER'S VIEWS. [nV TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] Wellington*, Monday. Tho following resolution was passed today at a meeting of the Institute of Marino Engineers : —" That this institute recognises the urgent necessity of taking action to protect the shipowners and crows of this Dombinion against unequal competition, and respectfully urges the Prime Minister, the Minister for Marine, and other Ministers and members of the both Houses of the Legislature to take steps to check what promises to be a serious menace to the employers and wage-earners, as well as the shipping industry of New Zealand. It is urged that immediate steps be taken to make terms with the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Dominion of New Zealand to arrange a reciprocal treaty compelling vessels trading between the two countries and on the coasts thereof to level up to the standard required by the navigation Acts of each country, to which shipowners are compelled to subscribe, and that Parliament be asked to insist upon the rights of the Commonwealth and this Dominion to make regulations in accordance with this resolution, as is the case with the Dominion of Canada.

WHAT THE SAILORS WANT. DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. [by telegraph.—special correspondent.] Wellington, Monday. A deputation, representative of the Executive Council of the Australasian Federated Seamen's Union, which has just concluded a conference in Wellington, waited upon the Minister for Marino (Hon. J. A. Millar) to-day. The deputation suggested that the qualifications of an able seaman in a home trade ship should be increased from two years to three years of sea service, and also that an ordinary seaman be defined as a person who had served at least two years at sea. The qualification of a fireman, it was urged, should be increased from three to six months as a trimmer, and that of a greaser from three to six months' service as a fireman. The Minister was asked to increase the manning scale of the stokehold and engineroom as follows :—Vessels of over 50 and under 100 indicated horse-power, two firemen ; over 100 and under 250 indicated horse-power, two firemen and one greaser; over 250 and under 750 indicated horsepower, three firemen and two greasers; and not less than two engineers in respect of vessels of 300 indicated horse-power or under, running less than 300 miles between terminal ports. Mr. Belcher said the conference was desirous that the Marine Department should defray the burial expenses of all destitute seamen out of moneys received for permits, fines, and forfeiture. At this stage the deputation retired, although there were still 13 or 14 matters t-> put before the Minister. It was atitinged that the deputation should wait upon the Minister at a date to be arranged after Mr. Belcher returns from Auckland, when the balance of the resolutions of the conference will be brought under his notice.

THE LASCAR INVASION. NEED FOR LEGISLATION. [ill* TELEGRAM.—I-RESS ASSOCIATION.] Duxedin, Monday. The following resolution has been forwarded by the Otago Trades Council to the Prime Minister, the Hon. J. A. Millar, and the local members of Parliament : — This Council is in entire sympathy with the national aspirations of the seamen's unions of the Dominion in their endeavour to prevent the invasion of cheap Lascar labour in New Zealand waters, and strongly urges the Government to pass Legislation this session either to prevent the employment of Lascars and other aliens on ships engaged in the intercolonial or coastal trade of New Zealand, or compel shipping companies employing that class of labour to observe the same conditions respecting wages, overtime, holidays, etc., as the uwnr:':' -_f competing vessels,"