SEAMEN'S DISPUTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22615, 31 December 1936, Page 10

SEAMEN'S DISPUTE

MOTOKSHIP LIMEEICK CAUSE OF GRIEVANCE POSSIBLE MISCONCEPTION FURTHER ADVICE RECEIVED [Til* TELEGRAPH —rRF.SS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Wednesday Some misconception of the real position is likely to arise from the statement in the cabled message from Honolulu, dated December 27, that 31 members of the crew of the Union Steamship Company's motor-ship Limerick struck in protest' against the use of non-union stevedores for unloading the vessel on December 21 and remained on shore in spite of the advice of the British Consul.

A messago received by the Union Company from its agents at Honolulu states tiiat the waterside workers who unloaded the Limerick at that port on December 21 are the same men as have been working the Vancouver mad steamers Aorangi and Niagara continuously over a long period for the firm of stevedores under contract with the company's agents. The question of employment ot nonunion. an against union labour, says tho message, did not arise in the dispute with the crew of tho Limerick, in whose case the same procedure was followed in the working of the cargo as has been customary • with Aorangi and Niagara for many years. The crew of the Lirnerjck, therefore, could have had no possible legitimate grievance in respect of the Honolulu waterside workers. Whether the seamen and engine room hands of the Limerick imagined that the carrying of cargo to Honolulu in their ship was likely to prejudice the position of the striking American seamen is not known, but the fact remains that, led by a few, they all refused duty and remained on shore, in spito of the advice of the British Consul at Honolulu. No men were signed on by the Limerick at that port and the ship bailed without any of men who had refused duty. The Limerick is due at Auckland on January 10 , , ui According to a Honolulu press cable of December 27, the immigration authorities at that port declared that the men left behind would be subject to deportation to New Zealand m 60 davs. It is authoritatively stated that the maintenance and return to New Zealand of these men will be at, the cost of the New Zealand Government.