DEVELOPMENT OF SHIPPING CRISIS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11366, 13 November 1922, Page 5

DEVELOPMENT OF SHIPPING CRISIS

CRAVE POSITION THROUGHOUT DOMINION SHIPOWNERS TO MEET TO-DAY IRRITATION TACTICS ALLEGED Saturday saw a further phase in the serious crisis that has arisen in connection with the seamen’s dispute, the men who gave notice on Friday leaving their vessels in aooordance with the general decision. To-day practically all vessels on New Zealand articles are laidu p, and the outlook is regarded as extremely grave. The Seamen’s Federation continues silent, and there is no definite intimation as yet what action the shipowners will take. However, the situation will be discussed at a meeting of the Shipowners’ Federation to-day. From what could be gathered on Saturday and yesterday the shipowners are likkely to take a strong hand against what they describe as “the irritation tactics of the men.”

LEAVINC THE SHIPS

A DESERTED WATERFRONT ENTIRE FLEET PRACTICALLT IDLE. Saturday saw the commencement of what is generally admitted to be the most serious industrial crisis the country has had to face since the upheaval of 1913. In accordance with their notices, the men employed on the various vessels in port ceased work, and to-day practically every vessel trading on the New Zealand coast will be idle. The waterfront presented a pathetically dull aspect on Saturday, and what little work was required to be done was hindered by the heavy rain. Thus the first day of idleness WM ushered in without incident and 1 under depressing conditions. “CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE” The officials of the Seamen’s Federation continue reticent—“a conspiracy of silence,” as a prominent shipowner described it to a “Times” reporter. It is evident that the federation is determined to remain silent, for the time being, at any rate, and when a “Times” reporter interviewed Mr IV. T. Young (general secretary) on Saturday, the latter said there was nothing to say for publication. Nor was he prepared to. reply to the statement of the employers’ case made by Mr T. O. Bishop (secretary of the Employers’ Federation). IRRITATION TACTICS? As suggested in the “Times” on Saturday, it is apparently not the men’s intention to remain idle after the 20th instant. It seems that (provided they are permitted to do so) the seamen will return to work on the date mentioned, hut only for a week, when they will again give notice. This is commonly known as an “irritationstrike,” a form of industrial action employed in order to injure employing interests. The general opinion among employers is that such action will not he tolerated under any circumstances, but exactly what attitude the employers will adopt is not yet Known. However, 'There will he a meeting of the Shipowners’ Federation to-day, when it is expected some decision will he arrived at. EFFECT ON OTHER WORKERS Undoubtedly one of the most serious aspects of the situation is the probable effect on other industries. It is too early yet to say what this will he, hut the seriousness of the position is fully realised in Labour circles. For instance, the waterside workers will be forced into idleness, and the majority of carriers will find themselves in a like position. The fate of other workers depends, of course, to a large extent on the duration of the trouble. CARRIAGE OF MAILS ARRANGEMENTS BY DEPARTMENT. The question of mails has not been allowed to escape the attention of the authorities, and arrangements have been made to meet the position brought about by the stoppage of the ferry service between the North and South Islands. There was no boat for Lyttelton on Saturday night, and letters were sent by the Ngaio, via Picton. The services of the H.M.S. Chatham have been secured for this purpose, and slie will brYng a general mail tomorrow. The proposal to use the Tutanekai between the North and South Islands during the trouble cannot be put into effect immediately, as the vessel is at present making a trip around the lighthouses in the South.

GETTING HOME RUSH BY SOUTH ISLANDERS. Contrary to expectation the Maori, which arrived from Lyttelton on Saturday morning, was far from a full ship, only bringing some 400 passengers, whereas she can accomodate about 750. The Ngaio, which sailed for Nelson on Saturday night, took a large number of people who were anxious to get to tho South Island. R.M.B. MAKURA The crew of the Union Steamship Company’s R.M.S Makura, which left Auckland on Friday for Sydney are on Australian articles. "What attitude her crew will adopt remains to he seen. Some of tho Manuka’s crew have arrived at Wellington. Thoso who signed on at Wellington were given railway fares by the company to pay for enlistment.

THE SHIPPING POSITION FERRY SERVICE SUSPENDED. {MOVEMENTS OF STEAMERS BEj FORE “TIEING UP.” ! The suspension of the Union Steam Ship Company's Welfington-Lyttelton “ferry”" service was effected on Saturday. The Wahine, on arrival at Lyttelton on Saturday morning from "Wellington, was withdrawn, as her crew had given notice. The men were paid off at Lyttelton on Saturday morning. Consequently there was no regular “ferry” steamer to arrive at Wellington yesterday morning from Lyttelton. The Maori arrived at "Wellington at on Saturday morning, and instead of berthing at the Ferry "Wharf the vessel went to No. 4 (inner tee). Queen’s Wharf, to lie up, as several members of her crew having given notice it was obvious a hold-up was inevitable. The other members of the crew were notified on Saturday that they would be paid off to-day. Those who had given notice were paid off on Saturday. The Ferry Wharf is at present left vacant for any vessel that may act as substitute in the Welling-ton-Lyttelton running. WATERFRONT TALK MARAROA AS A SUBSTITUTE. It was current talk on the waterfront yesterday that the Union Steam Ship Company’s Mararoa, which has | been undergoing minor repairs to her machinery at Lambton Wharf, Welling- ! ton, ib about to be recommissioned to re-enter the Wellington - Lyttelton 1 “ferry” service while the present trouble lasts. The company’6 officials , were not disposed to discuss the matter when it was referred to them, but it would seem that an endeavour will be made to run the Mararoa unless any untoward development occurs. WELLINCTON-PICTON RUN CREWS TO LEAVE TO-DAY. The "Union Steam Ship Company’s Wellington-Picton passenger steamer Wainui, which returned to Wellington from Picton at 5.15 o'clock on Saturday evening, will pay off her crew at Wellington to-day, and will lie up. The crew gave notice at 10.30 a.m. on Saturday. The Wainui brought an average number of passengers, about 50, from Picton. The crew of the Union Company's cargo steamer Kahika, which has been held up at Wellington through a shortage in her crew, will be paid off to-day. THE COAL STEAMERS NGAHERE AND NGAKUTA. Several members of the crew of the U.S.S. Co.’s coastal cargo steamer Ngahere, having given due notice, signed off tho ship’s articles at Wellington on Saturday. The remainder were then given notice, and svill be paid off to-day. The Ngahere arrived at Wellington at 7.30 a.m. on Saturday from Greymouth with" a load of coal. The same company’s Ngakuta is to leave Westport to-day with a load of coal for Wellington, where she is 1 duo to-morrow. She will probably join the “laid up” fleet at Wellington. WELLINCTON-NELSON BOATS USUAL SERVICE STOPS TO-DAY. Tho Anchor Shipping Company's Wellington-Nelson passenger service was brought to a stoppage yesterday. The Nikau, which was to leave Nelson on Saturday evening for Wellington, signed off her crew at Nelson, the men having given due notice. The vessel, therefore, was unable to sail. The Ngaio, which has accommodation for 200 passengers, had only half that number when she left Wellington at 7.45 o’clock on Saturday night for Nelson The crew gave notice, and will be paid off at Nelson to-day. OTHER VESSELS AFFECTED COASTERS TO LIE UP. The small coastal steamer Wootton which runs between Wellington and Lyttelton, paid off all hands at Wellington on Saturday. Tho H’awera, which arrived at Wellington on Saturday morning from Patea and tho Kapiti which arrived on Saturday afternoon from Wanganui, will both sign off their crews to-day, the men having given notice. The auxiliary schooner Echo, which arrived at Wellington early yesterday morninfr from Blenheim, will lie up to-da-v, her crew having given notice. Tho coastal steamer Wairau, which is to sail from Blenheim at 10 o’clock this morning for Wellington, is bringing mails. Her crew have given notice, so this will ho her last trip for the time being.