WATCHMEN ON SMALL STEAMERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17104, 8 September 1917, Page 7

WATCHMEN ON SMALL STEAMERS.

DISPUTE WITH OWNEES.

FOUR VESSELS HELD tTP.

(Peh Ukited Peess AssooiatiGh.) ~ WELLINGTON, September 7. '- Masters of several local coastal steamers J this morning received notices from meat "* that the latter would not sail to-night unless ' two men were employed on the watch. The ' I vessels affected are the Huia, Queen of the , • South, Kaitu, and Blenheim. The trouble i is the outcome of a dispute regarding the , i interpretation of the eight hours' clause -' in the new seamen's agreement. Conferences * Were held regarding the matter this week \ between the Seamen's Union and the Ship 1 Owners' Association, but an agreement was • not reached, and the ship-owners proposed ' to take the matter to tho Arbitration Court . Mr Dick (chairman of the Ship-owners' Committee) states that the number of men , to comprise a watch has not previously been >, the subject of any demand by the men, nor * was it mentioned at recent conferences. It 1 has been tie custom for some time to have ; only one man on watch on the smaller vessels. Nominally, pr-or to the new agree- J ment, there were two on tho watch, bat generally one remained at the wheel and the other turned in. Then, when the new agreement imposed more conditions regarding hours, the owners discontinued '. the practice of paying a man for time - spent in his bunk. # ' >' The Minister of Marine Iβ considering the position which will arise if the men do not t go to sea to-night, since* they will have , broken the legal requirement of 24.hours , j notice. . The seamen's representative stated that • the men are taking action _ because they considered tho present practice dangerous, * as the steersman, with his eyes on the compass, could not keep a proper lookout. ,1 None of the email steamers affected by 1 the seamen's dispnte sailed to- night, and it _'_ is unknown when they will be ablo to get away. ■ • ;