SEAMEN’S DISPUTE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9783, 5 October 1917, Page 5

SEAMEN’S DISPUTE

MEN DECLINE TO WORK MEETING DISCUSSES PRIME MINISTER’S LETTER. At a special meeting of tlio Wellington “local” of the Federated Seamen’s Union yesterday afternoon; at which there woro about 200 members present, it was unanimously decided not to accept employment on any vessel of tho “mosquito fleet” unless two men were employed in each watch. Tho main business of tho meeting, which was held at the Trades Hall, and was presided over by Mr J. Adams, president of the union, was tho consideration of tho, letter from the Prime Minister forwarded to tho secretary ot the union last Tuesday. The main .features emphasised by the Prim© Minister were that there was a shortage ot lood and other essential goods in Kaikoura and elsewhere m New Zealand due to the holding tip of the coastal fleet; that the union and each cf the members concerned had committed a breach of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act that full provision is made m the Act for the matter to be settled by application to tho Conciliation Commiseionor or Arbitration Court which tho union had refused to a ® > that tho union had declined to accept his (the Prime Ministers) invitation to agree to the setting up of an independent board, tho union imposing as a condition that the proceedings instituted under the War Regulations against certain members of the. executive he withdrawn or determined; and that the matter would pe forthwith referred to the Arbitration Court by tho Inspector ol Awards, pursuant to the Industrial Conciliation and Arhitraition Aot and the rules of the court thereunder. The letter concluded: As it is imperative that the trad© of steamers concerned should be at once resumed, the Government calls upon the seamen that are now disengaged to immediately return to their employment under the agreement now existing until the decision of the Arbitration Court has been given. “I trust that you will; at one© inform the seamen affected of the contents of this letter and arrange with them to resume their work. ’ Tho members discussed the letter at length, the meeting lasting from . a p.m. till 5.30 p.m., and tho decision not to return to work was unanimous. Owing to the incarceration of Mr W. T. Young and Mr Frank Howell, secretary and assistant secretary respectively of the nnion, Mr J. Adams and Mr G. Nation were appointed act-ing-secretary and assistant secretary respectively. . With regard to possible representation of the union at any Arbitration Court proceedings nothing was done.