SHIPPING DISPUTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20900, 16 June 1931, Page 8

SHIPPING DISPUTES.

TWO STEAMERS AFFECTED

SETTLEMENT IN ONE CASE

COOKS AND STEWARDS.

POSITION AT AUCKLAND,

The application of the 10 per cent, cut in the, wages of cooks and stewards on New Zealand steamers is resented by some of the men. Disputes have already occurred on two vessels, the Maori and the Wairnarino, at Wellington,' and yesterday difficulty arose on two.vessels at Auckland.

Before the Union Company's Island steamer Tofua sailed for Suva yesterday morning the cooks and stewards on board demurred when it was proposed that their wages should be reduced in accordance with the general order of the Arbitration Court. In order that the vessel should not be delayed the matter was adjusted and the' Tofna sailed on schedule.

Tho second dispute occurred on tho company's steamer Waimea, which is engaged in the Auckland-East Coast trade. Tho vessel arrived from Napier on Sunday and yesterday the . cook and tho steward on board were notified that their wages would be reduced 10 per cent. Tlie men refused to work at the decreased rate, whereupon they were given 24 hours''notice of dismissal. The vessel is to sail for Gisborne and Napier this afternoon, but she cannot leave until tho matter is settled. WELLINGTON TROUBLES. v VESSELS STILL HELD UP. MASTERS AND OFFICERS* CASE. [nv telegraph.—press association.] WELLINGTON. Monday. There were no fresh developments today concerning the position that has arisen on tho waterfront in Wellington in connection with the application of the 10 per cent, reduction in wages of seafarers and waterside workers. In shipping circles, however, the situation „is regarded as a delicate one.

No attempt has been made by (he Union Company to man either the Waimarino or the Kaloa, which have been held up for some days owing to the refusal of the cooks and stewards to sign new articles embodying the wage reduction. Up to the present no other steamers have been affected by -this cause. The ferry steamers Maori and Maheno left Wellington and Lyttelton respectively this evening as usual, no hitch of any kind arising to prevent their sailing. A joint deputation, representing. the Merchant Service Guild (masters and ofTiceis) and the Marine Engineers' Institute, met the general manager of the Union Company this afternoon and fully set out the views of those bodies 011 the wago reduction, of which their members have been notified. The conference lasted for two and a-half hours. .-

Subsequently a reporter was informed tiiat a certain proposal was put forward for the consideration of the company. The matter-was discussed at considerable length but no decision was reached. The Union Company's representative indicated that the proposal would receive full consideration and that th® decision would be communicated later to the guild and institute representatives^

.The Port Fairy, which was held up on Saturday, sailed, to-day for Napier, and the Port Huon continued her discharging.

SEAMEN AND FIREMEN. TERMS OF AGREEMENT. " i.* BINDING UNTIL NEXT YEAR. [BY TKLEGRAFH.— OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Monday. An official pf the Union Company stated to-night that the agreement between the shipowners and the Seamen's Union was binding upon both parties until July, 1932, and for this reason no "cut" would be made unless the seamen and firemen voluntarily agreed to a reduction in wages.