SHIPPING DISPUTE

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11415, 11 January 1923, Page 2

SHIPPING DISPUTE

DEPUTATION TO MINISTERS SUSPENSION OF SHIPPING ACT; REQUEST FOR REMOVAL. MATTERS DISCUSSED IN CAMERA. A deputation from the New Zealand Labour Party, tho Alliance of Labour, and -he Federated Seamen’s Union waited yesterday morning upon the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massoy) and the Hon. G. J. Anderson (Minister for Marine and Labour) with the request that the suspension of section 57 of the Shipping and Seamen Act should be remove 1. The suspension of this section makes possible the employment of non-union labour on vessels; and the Seamen’s Union maintains that travel by sea has been rendered dangerous by tho manning of ships By many men who are not qualified seamen. The Minister for Marino contends, on the other hand, that adequate precautions have been taken by his department to ensure the safety and the lives of passengers. The text of the section in question Is as follows: — Sec'.ion. 57 (1) of the Shipping and Sea men Act leads:—‘‘s7 (1) Tho Minister may, if he thinks fit. end upon such conditions (if any) as he thinks fit to impose, exempt any ship from any specified requirement contained ir. or prescribed in pursuance of the principal Act or of this Act, or dispense with the observance of any such requirement in the case of any ship, it he m satisfied that that requirement has been substantially compiled with in the case of that ship, or that compliance with the requirement is unnecessary in the circumstances of the case, and that tho action taken or provision made as respects the subject-matter of the requirement in the case of the 6hip ie as effective ns, or more effective than, actual compliance with the requirement.” The deputation to the Prime Minister and Mr Anderson was introduced by Mr P. Fraser, M.P., and among those present were Messrs T Brindle (president New Zealand Labour Party), A. L. Monteith, M.P., R. McKeen, M.P., M.

J. Mack (president New Zealand Alliance of Labour), W. T. Young (general secretary Federated Seamen’s Union), and members of the executive of the Alliance of Labour and the national council of the Seamen’s Union. The interview with Mr Massey and Mr Anderson was conducted in camera, and subsequently the Prime Minister announced that there waa no statement to make. „THB NEXT STEP! In the event of the Government refusing to remove the suspension of the Shipping /Act, at is not known what the next step of the seamen will be, although it is suggested that the union may call the dispute off and allow ihe men to get gaek to the ships on the best terms possible. This would mean that the unionists would acquisce in the shipowners’ determination not to dismiss the qualified non-unionists seamen, which,' np to the present, has been the chief stumbling block in the way of a

settlement of the trouble. On the other hand the Seamen’s Union may elect to place the dispute in tho hands of the Alliance of Labour, which has already publicly expressed its willingness to give the seamen all the su import in its power. The fact that the Alliance of Labour was represented on this morning’s deputation lends colour to the Belief that there has Been negotiation between the union and the alliance already. A meeting of the executive of the allianoe may be called 'within a few ALLIANCE AND WATERSIDERS.

The Alliance of Labour is at present conducting a ballot pn the question of opposing the reecnt wages reductions, and the result of the waterside workers’ ballot concerning their award is understood to have been communicated to the conference of the Waterside Workers’ Federation at Auckland. In the event of the seamen’s dispute not being settled before the end of this month the Tlliance of Labour may consider the advisability of attempting to bring about a general cessation of work on the part of affiliated organisations, partly as a protest against the yvages reductions and partly out of sympathy with tihe seamen and watersiders. It is not yet disclosed how tho watersiders have voted, but it is thought that if they have balloted against accepting their own award, the result may be kept a secret until the Alliance of Labour ballot is counted after January 15th.

The seamen in all probability would cast their votes in the alliance ballot in favour of a strike, if by so doing the> considered that there wae a possibility of all awards reducing wages being re viewed by the authorities, and especially in view of the fact that they are the only organisation which has so far put a protest into practice. The whole position is somewhat com plicated for. quite apart from tho alliance ballot, the seamen may prefer to go back to work now. build up a strong fighting fund, and then resume hostilities against the shipowners when the Arbitration Court’s award expires in September'. Such a source of action is understood to have, been recommended. If it is followed out then it is likely that the shipowners woulcLagain man their ships with free labour, and. if the seamen cancelled their registration under the Arbitration Act, a new union would be formed. If tlie watersiders have voted in favour of accepting their own award, they may yei have to go out on strike if the majority of votes cast in the Alliance of Labour ballot is sufficient to nwamp the wishes of the watersiders as an individual organisation.