SHIPPING HOLD-UP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18723, 29 November 1922, Page 8

SHIPPING HOLD-UP

MEN BACKING MOWN. SOMETHING DEFINITE EXPECTED TO-DAY. (From Ode Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, November 28. There are indications to-day that the seamen and firemen are backing down because they realise that further inactivity on their part is unlikely to bo productive of ultimate beneficial results. The executive now seems anxious to bring about a settlement, and some definite move may bo expected to-morrow. AN EARLY SETTLEMENT EXPECTED. COOKS AND STEWARDS’. WAGES IN AUSTRALIA. (Pee United Pbess Association.) WELLINGTON, November 28. Tho situation in tho shipping trouble shows indications in favour of an early settlement. No announcement has yet been made by tho National Executive of the Seamen’s Union, but it is believed that members realise that it is fruitless perpetuating the present position, because the ship owners are having no difficulty in getting their vessels manned by free labour, and it seems hopeless to expect support from tho deck officers or from any other outside source. It appears that the executive of the union considers that the firemen and seamen have not refused to accept work under the court’s award, because when tho men offered their services a week ago the ship owmers declined to make any engagements until the union first guaranteed tha,t the previous award would be accepted and observed.

The deyolpomenta to-day signify that the executive is anxious to bring about a settlement, and that a conference with tho ship owners to discuss the existing situation would be welcomed.

Mr T. 0. Bishop, secretary of tho Ship Owners’ Federation, stated to-day that a settlement must be effected with the union before tho unionists would he allowed to go back to tho ships. The secretary of the Merchant Service Guild (Captain Maolndoe) stated this morning that there was no clianco of tho deck officers going out. He had been surprised to see the Christchurch telegram to. that effect. A reporter was informed that under the recent pronouncement of tho Arbitration Court in Australia, the wages of cooks and stewards on the Australian articles had been reduced by 11s 6d per month. This, it was stated was a greater reduction than the reduction of 10s per month recently made in the wages of cooks and stewards on Now Zealand articles. THE FERRY SERVICE. MAORI LEAVES WELLINGTON TO-NIGHT. (Pee United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, November 28. Tho Mararoa will leave to-night for Wellington, but on Wednesday night tho Maori will come south and continue the Mararoa’s running. The Mararoa will be laid up in tho meanwhile. THE POSITION IN AUCKLAND. (Pee United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, November 28. The Arahura left for Gisborne and Napier to-day. She is the last of the coastal vessels rendered idle by the strike. The only vessels now tied up are tho Manuka, the Waitomo, the Kaiwarra, the Kawatiri, and the Kaiapoi. No labour is being engaged for these vessels pending a settlement of the Australian trouble.

THE LOCAL POSITION. There was practically no development locally yesterday in connection with the shipping hold-up. The inter-state steamer Paloona is still at the Birch street wharf, and nothing definite has been decided as to her future movements. There are no sailors, firemen, or trimmers on board, but the officers, engineers, and stewards are standing by the ship. The waterside workers completed discharging the local portion of her cargo yesterday morning, and there was, consequently, very little activity on board for the rest of the day The Calm reached port yesterday after noon from Bluff, and the Kurow completed discharging her cargo from Auckland at 10 a.m. yesterday, and sailed shortly before noon for Bluff and Westport. IN AUSTRALIA. MASS MEETING OF SEAMEN. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, November 28. (Received Nov. 28, at 9.45 p.m.) A mass meeting of seamen decided that the Waikawa men shall not return to tho vessel on any other terms than the Australian articles. It was announced at the meeting that the stewards and other members of the Mooraki’s crew had been asked to perform seamen’s duties, but (hey refused. The Union Company has paid off the crows of tho Koranui and Kokiri.