POLICY OF SILENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18250, 17 November 1922, Page 10

POLICY OF SILENCE.

NO STATEMENTS BY ONION.

THE MICAWBER ATTITUDE. WAITING TURN OF EVENTS. [BX XEUtOBJLPH.—BttESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. The intention of the seamen and firemen to try to hold up the shipping services of the countjy still appears to be as determined as ever. No indication is yet forthcoming as to the attitude of tha Seamen's Union to the situation, which is now developing, but there appears to bo some resentment at the action of the men who aro volnnteering for positions on ships. Mr. W. T. Young, secretary of the union, refuses to be drawn in any way, and still declines to make any public statement. There has been a meeting of seamen and another meeting .is called for to-morrow. The policy of silence which the seamen's officials are adopting coidd scarcely be better preserved, but there seems to be a, feeling that the union is, like Micawber, waiting for something to turn up. At Napier, the watersiders have re fused to handle cargo for boats manned by volunteers, but no trouble has been experienced in this direction in Wellington. No official advice has been received by the headquarters of the Waterside Workers' Federation regarding the position at Napier. It would appear that the Napier men have acted purely on their own account.

INTER-ISLAND MAILS. MAINTENANCE OF SERVICE. ONLY TWO RUNS MISSED. [BY. TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Thursday. During _ the strike trouble, the pOst office officials have been taking advantage of every opportunity to maintain mail communications between the North and South Islands. To-night is the second occasion on which there has not been a south-bound miail since the trouble began. "We realise our responsibility for keeping up mail communications," said Mr. H. D. Grocott, the chief postmaster, " and we are keeping in close touch with shipping companies. So far, there has been no accumulation of mails. Everything is well in hand." Mr. Grocott added that no mail came up from Lyttelton this morning, but one was expected by the Mararoa to-morrow. There would not be a mail for Lyttelton this evening. Arrangements had been made for H.M.S. Veronica to bring the mail up from Lyttelton to-morrow evening after the arrival of the express. The Mararoa and Nikau were keeping up regular mail services between Lyttelton and Nelson, and mails were being despatched on every available steamer. The Wainui and Wairau, sailing forMarlboroiiffh porta to-day, would be taking mails, and communication was also expected to be- established with Greymouth by the Ngahere, which was timed to sail at 5 p.m. to-day. A mail would also probably go South on Saturday bv the Wootton, which was timed to sail lat noon for Lvttelton. On the whole, concluded Mr. Grocott, we have got quite a fair service. MR, WILFORD ON STRIKE. GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED. STAND FOR LAW AND ORDER. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] FEILDING, Thursday

Referring to the shipping trouble, in the course of his address here last night, Mr. Wllford said:—" Speaking for the Liberal-Labour Party, I wish to say we stand for constitutionalism, for law and order. We realise that for centuries a fight has taken place to substitute the rights of the Courts for private fighting. " No country can progress, nor can civilisation stand unless unhesitating submission is given to the judgments of the Courts. When a case is decided by the Courts, that decision must be backed up by the Government. No section of the public should be allowed to hold the whole community to ransom because they object or do not agree with any Court decision. We are believers in arbitral tion, because we believe arbitration is an appeal to reason. We stand behind the Government to keep the wheels of industry revolving. " As a party we believe it is the Government's duty to see that the industries of the country are carried on. The party led by me will certainly help to prevent any dislocation of tho trade and commerce of the country taking place."

DEPARTMENT AND STRIKE. TO MAKE INQUIRIES. [BT TELEGRAPH. —PBESS ASSOCIATION. J WELLINGTON. Thursday. The Labour Department •is making inquiries as to whether the action of the seamen leaving their ships constitutes a. breach of the Arbitration Act. •PASSENGERS ON COAST. UNION CLAIMS VICTORY. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 11' p.m.) MELBOUBNE. Nov. 16. The crew of the Hauraki refused to take the vessel to sea unless paid at the old award rates, contending that they signed on at the old rates until January. Tho Union Company refused the request. The Paloona s mail is going to Sydney to be shipped by the Uhmaroa for New Zealand. The trouble in regard to the Orvieto is settled. The Seamen's Union claims a victory in establishing the principle that overseas steamers cannot carry passengers on the Australian coast unless the crew are paid the Australian rates of wages. ' RESPONSE AT DUNEDIN. CORINNA TO SAIL TO-DAY. [B7 TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.! DUNEDIN. Thursday. The call for a crew for the Corinna this morning was most satisfactory. The company hopes to despatch the vessel tomorrow for New Plymouth and Nelson. No difiiculty is expected with the Kamo and other ships., FIRST SINCE TROUBLE. ARRIVAL AT TIMARU. [BX TELEGRAPH. PBESS ASSOCIATION] TIMAEU, Thursday. The Katoa, with volunteer seamen aboard, arrived this afternoon from Lyttelton, being the first vessel to arrive since the trouble broke out. The waterside workers showed no hesitation in working the ship, and the vessel left at 6 o'clock for Dunedin.