THE SEAMEN'S STRIKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18244, 10 November 1922, Page 8

THE SEAMEN'S STRIKE.

Whatever may be the technical position, the practical effect is that a section of the seamen and firemen are on strike in protest against the award recently made by the Arbitration Court. Ten days have passed since the first crew came ashore without bringing a solution of the difficulty. Yet the consequences are too serious to be allowed to continue indefinitely. Already much inconvenience has been suffered by those districts dependent lon the coastal steamers, and they are now facing serious loss and grave hardship. Nor can it be doubted that the striking seamen are themselves suffering by their idleness and would welcome an escape from the deadlock. The situation is the direct result of hasty action. The award was condemned because it reduced wages and modified conditions, but without adequate consideration of the reasons for the changes. For several years wages and conditions in the industry were fixed by agreement between the shipowners and their employees. Economic conditions were abnormal and. the. seamen were able virtually to dictate terms that were to a substantial degree artificial. Circumstances have altered. Nowhere has the slump been more acute nor recovery smaller than in the shipping world, and the shipowner is no longer able to recover extreme charges. Nor is it reasonable to reject the judgment of the Court. The case was examined exhaustively, ample opportunity being given to the seamen's representatives to present every argument and every piece of evidence they could marshal. With this* information the Court modified certain anomalous conditions in the

expired agreement and fixed a Bcale of wages relatively higher than pre-war rates, and equivalent to the scale of tho 1920 agreement, with adjustments in proportion to the Court's general provisions in regard to cost of living bonuses; Could the seamen reasonably expect to obtain better terms outside the Court 1 ? Its whole history is opposed to any such view, for in tim-js of economic stress there is no other means by which the claims of employers for relief from embarrassing conditions will bo measured with greater consideration for the claims, of their employees. The Court is in fact the brake on wage reductions. These considerations have evidently been overlooked by those who have engaged in the strike. But can they establish a reasonable case against the award when their federation, in the conditions now prevailing, makes the ridiculous proposal of a return to the old agreement with an increase in wages? It may be suggested to the seamen that the times are singularly unfavourable for a strike. When shipowners are compelled to lay ships aside owing to lack of profitable business they are not likely to be easily driven into the granting of all that seamen and their unions may demand.