BRITISH SEAMEN

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10851, 17 March 1921, Page 5

BRITISH SEAMEN

REDUCED WACES QUESTION "TALK OF STRIKE WICKEDLY PREMATURE.” SETTLEMENT BY NEGOTIATION. By Telegraph —Press Assn. —Copyright Australian and NfiZ. Oable Association. LONDON, March 15. Mr Havelock Wilson, interviewed by the Australian Press, said: "It is wickedly premature to even talk of the possibility of a maritime strike, merely because the shipowners are asking us to meet and discuss a proposal to reduce wage?.. I can state that the relations between British seamen and the shipowners are now most pleasant and most amicable. M o will join the owners on Thursday at a round-table conference to consider a scheme in the friendliest manner and listen to the owners’ case. Failing an agreement, as an outcome of the conference,. we will consult the members of the unions affected. Finally, in the event of a deadlock, the executive will formulate a policy on which a members’ ballot will be necessary. The owners must present the strongest case before a reduction will be acceptable. It must be remembered that tlie agreement under which we are now working does not expire till December, and, owing to its international basis, owners are unable to plead, as heretofore, inability to meet 'foreign competition. We are not likely to accept less than foreign seamen, and we will not listen to reductions merely aimed at enabling British owners to undercut foreigners in the freight markets. If owners plead inability to profitably run their ships at present costs, we suggest an international fixing of minimum profitable freights instead of paying seamen less than a living wage.” THE BROAD QUESTION VIEWS OF TRADE UNION CONGRESS DELEGATES. LONDON, March 15. A Trade Union Congress official informs the Australian Plress that a special sub-committee is considering the unemployment and wage-reduction problems. Ho states that one of the most serious features is the attempt to abolish the Wages Board, affecting three million workers, who are Labour’s bottom dogs. A large body of workers recognises that the present rates, fixed in war time, are artificial, and not based on the ability of the industries to pay. They gravely view the recent closing of "factories, due to the international competition and exchange problems. Nevertheless, there is a strong opposition to reductions based on the reoent decline in living costs, which are regarded as ephemeral.