AGREEMENT FOR SEAMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18025, 25 February 1922, Page 8

AGREEMENT FOR SEAMEN.

REFUSAL OF CONFERENCE/ PROTEST FROM THE MM, [BY fELBGBAHI.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.]'-' WELLINGTON. Ftidiy; The following statement has been made by Mr. W. T. Young, secretary of tie Federated Seamen's Union:— "In submitting to the New Zealand shipowners in December last its claims for a new agreement to replace the one now current and expiring on the SgflT inst., the Federated Seamen's Union requested a conference of the parties this month to consider fully and discuss the same and the circumstances' appertaining thereto. On the 15th instant the otocts definitely replied that in their opinion it would be futile for such a conference to taku place, as they intended going to the Court of Arbitration for a definite and authoritative ruling. " The communication of the shipowners has been considered by the seamen's txe-' cut ivo council and- the followinj oktipn was unanimously carnal, namely, that' in view of the fact tbaVwratav year's past (since 1906)' tie"nMon-has been able to adjust all its disputes *iui the shipowners as to wages and working conditions per medium of ciirec't conference, and the results of such conferences . having been satisfactory to both : parties> this council is astounded at the action of the shipowners in declining to meet til in the same- manner as in the past. "The recent proposals of the Govern' ment to amend the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act at ,the dictotior. of the Employers' Federation h« finally killed the confidence of the workers of New Zealand in the Court, and we' . emphatically protest against. thfc snil)owners' proposal to refer our dispute.to 1] that tribunal, and must view with profound suspicion the motives underlying their intention."