AGGRIEVED FIREMEN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15672, 27 January 1913, Page 2 (Supplement)

AGGRIEVED FIREMEN.

TWENTY-SEVJSN MEN LEAVE, THE MAORI. INCONVENIENCE TO PASSENGERS. CHRISTCHURCII, January 4. About 600 passengers who intended to travel by tho Maori to Lyttelton this evening had to be transhipped to the Aralvura, Te Anau, and Tarawera. Tho reason was the following paragraph, which was telegraphed through the Press Association, from Wellington on Wednesday last:—" The Union Company's trip to Picton by tho Maori this morning was abandoned owing to the demand by the firemen for 30s for the trip, which demand tho company refused to entertain." Tho message, which was published in tho Christehurcli papers, caught the eye of the firemen on the Maori at Lyttelton on Thursday, and they took exception to it, as it was incorrect. Tho trip to Picton was not abandoned on account of the men demanding 30s for tho voyage, but owing to the unfavourable weather conditions that prevailed on New Year's morning. Just prior to the Maori leaving Lyttelton for Wellington on Thursday evening tho men intimated to Captain Aldwol! that unless the statement was rectified they would leave the steamer on arrival at Wellington. Captain Aldwell informed the men that it would be advisable for them not-to take anv ftrw urt ; l the matter had been inquired into. On arrival this morning the secretary of the Seamen's Union (Mr W. Young) was commiiniratcd with regarding the matter. He went aboard the Maori and conferred with the men regarding their grievance. They informed him of the paragraph, and demanded an apology from the Press Association. Mr Young put himself into communication with the Press Association office, and received an assurance that a correction would b? sent to all papers. On returning to the Maori he found about eight firemen on board, and informed them of the action the Press Association intended to take. This .was considered satisfactory by these men and also by several others whom he met outside the Pier Hotel. On returning to the Maori at 12.20 p.m., however, the men rlpmaiided that the npology should bo in writing, and they also wanted Ihe name of the agent who was responsible for the message. They intimated that tho apology should have been received by noon. "Of course," said Mr Young. "it was impossible to have the apology there in writing by r.oon as it wai then 20 minutes past that hour and this was the first intimation thnt I had tlia,t a Written apology was required. I was quitesatisfied that the difficulty had been overcome • when tho assurance given by the Press Association that the paragraph would be corrected was conveyed to the men, but thoy refused later to accept this and 'eft the ship." Mr Young said ho had used his best endeavours to sot tho men to return to their posts, but- without success, and they would sign off to-morrow

A meeting was held at 2.30 p.m. at tho Custom House, when! the men were addressed by Mr W Kennedy, general manager of the Union Steam Ship Company in Wellington, and Mr Young.

Mr Kennedy produced a full and unqualified apolopry from the Press Associatir.n regarding the statement which 1 ) had been s?nt out, and urged the men to return to work. Tho Union Steam Ship Company, he remarked, was not in any way responsible for what had been published, and the firemen, by taking the action they did, were holding up one of the great public conveniences.

Mr Younsr also urced the men to return to work, and pointed out that the Press Association had done all that had boon asked of it to correct the statement. It had also given an apology in writing.

A motion to the effect that the men reconsider the position and proceed to work was then 'put and !o«t. In all 15 firemen, nine trimmers', a storekeeper, a donkey man, and a greaser vacated their positions, and as it was impossible to replace these the Maori was unable to proceed.

The facj that there had bcrtn trouble on the Maori had not apparently reached the majority of the passengers, and some surprise was occasioned amonir them when they ascertained on the wharf that the vessel would not bo sailing this evening. A large number had previously placed their lugirage aboard, and a hustle followed to get it transhipped to tho Arahura. but this vessel was filled early and tho leisurely onc6 had perforce to wend their wav to the Tarawera and To Anau or abandon the trip. The Arahura was tho first to depart, leaving at 8.5 p.m., with about 300 passengers. Tho To Anau followed at 8.45 p.m., with about 200 passengers, and the Tarawera, which sailed at 8.55 p.m., took a similar number. The Arahura will, immediately on arrival at L'yttelton, double back to Wellington so that she will be able to leave for Picton, Nelson, Westport, and Greymouth. • It may be mentioned that the Seamen's Union is not registered _ under tho Arbitration Act, nor is it connected with the Federation of Labour. It is purely independent, but it has an agreement with the shipping companies. The firemen on tho Arahura and To Anau would not have been required to work 'this evening but, for the trouble on tho Maori, and Mr Young remarked to a reporter that they deserved great praise for tho manner in which they had turned to in a case of emergency.

Captain Aldwell, when approached by a reporter, said that tho only reason tho trip to Picton was abandoned was on account of the weather, und no demands wero made by tho crew for increased pay for the trip. The weather was bad when the Maori arrived. It was raining and blowing hard at sea, and he thought it would bo an unpleasant day for the excursion so it was not undertaken. The crew had not caused tho slightest inconvenience during tho holidays, and the Maori's running had not in arty way boen interfered with till that day.