CREW FOR BENICIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19144, 9 October 1925, Page 8

CREW FOR BENICIA.

EIGHT STRIKERS REPLACED. VESSEL READ 1 !' TO SAIL, j CARGO FOR THE SOUTH. ' " A farther development in lie. s£rii» of British seamen at Auckland took place yesterday, when the sto&mer Benicia, which has been delayed sin* August 23, secured a full complement by the enlistment of eight volunteers. The Benicia, which has cargo from Montreal, Sydney (Cape Breton), New York and Newport News to discharge at Wellington, Lyttelton, Dune din, Bluff and Sydney, is now ready to proceed South. The vessel is on her maiden voyage, having cleared Newport News on July 14. The crew consists of Arabs with the exception of eight white deckhands, who refused duty shortly after and the discharge of Auckland cargo, and are now in prison. They have been replaced by outside labour, four men who were taken oat to the ship last evening bringing the complement to full strength. LABOUR VIEW OF STRIKE. THE QUESTION OF WAGES. PROHIBITING FOREIGN SHIPS. A reference to the shipping strike was made by, Mr. J. A. Lee, M.P., in his opening address to Auckland East electors last night. "The dispute is no'; a New Zealand one," said Mr. Lee, "It is between British seamen and British shipowners. It is not our affair, but we regret it very much. I am one of those who believe that no member of oar kith and kin should be compelled to bring up a family on £9 a month. These man a few years ago were heroes facing the submarine, while other people waxed fat. Now the same people are denying them more than £9 a month- If any effort were made in New Zealand to reduce the wages ox a man with wife and children to that level, Labour would fight It to the last ditch." Mr. Lee declared that the British shipowners would rather trade with the help of cheap foreign ships than pay decent wages to British seamen. He considered the "New Zealand Govertrawnrt should legislate to prevent foreign ships, or any ships on which the crews were underpaid, from trading to tha Dominion's ports. New Zealand Labour had done nothing to provoke the si* ike. It had had no opportunity of settling it. Mr. Holland had never been asked to help in trying to reach a settlement. It was worth noting that no member of the Reform or Liberal Partien had yet stated publicly that £3 a month was not enough to enable a man to keep his family. HUNDRED VOLUraraiS. RESPONSE FROM ELTHAM. [BT T*X*G3WLgK«—I*EBS ASSOCUnOK.] ELTHAM. Tho rsday. Over 200 men volunteered here to mpn ships, load them, or engage in othe- work should . the Government require . tlieir j services during the strike. '"' " *