SEAMEN’S DISPUTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18755, 8 January 1923, Page 6

SEAMEN’S DISPUTE

CHIEF OBSTACLE TO SETTLEMENT. THE NON-UNIONIST QUESTION. (Feb United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, 5a unary 6. Although no definite statement, can be obtained in regard (o the action of the Seamen’s Union at, Sydney in lifting the boycott on the Union Company’s steamers, it may ultimately have some hairing on the seamen’s trouble in Now Zealand. On being asked whether this was the case. Mr W. T. Young, the general secretary of the Federated Seamen’s Union replied that he did not think so. but. in any case, he was not in a position to make any’ statement. The chief barrier to a settlement of the seamen’s dispute so far us Now Zealand is concerned appears to be the unwillingness of the seamen to work with non-unionists, whom the shipping companies do not propose to dismiss. It is suggested that the Seamen’s Union will come to terms with the shipowners on this point, but after getting back to their ships will make matters so unpleasant for the non-unionists that the latter will be glad to get out. This is what is known in the militant labour world us “white anting,” and is resorted to sometimes, (hough perhaps not always, with success. Up to the present, at any rate, it seems that the seamen in New Zealand are not; prepared to adopt such tactics as a means towards getting a..footing on the vessels. An endeavour is now being made to raise funds in connection with the seamen’s trouble. Tickets headed “.Federated Seamen’s Union” are being sold with an intimation that the object is being directed by the union. This now move is interpreted by some to mean that the union is finding difficulty financially in keeping the dispute going, but. Mr Young stated that the object was to assist the wives and children of seamen and that the union was not officially concerned with the proposal. Although it gave its support the movement had originated outside the union. Arrangements for securing a new crew for the Waihora were completed on Saturday. and the vessel left Dunedin early yesterday morning for Lyttelton, where she will continue the discharge of her cargo of Eastern merchandise. The men who were on the vessel when she reached Dunedin were paid off on Friday. £ome of the men reside in Dunedin, but others come from Lyttelton, Wellington, and Auckland. Contradictory statements are in circulation regarding the discharge of the crew of this vessel. One of our reporters was informed on Saturday that some three or four members of the crew decided to leave the vessel at this port and (hat the Union Company then decided to pav the remainder off. The officials of the Union Company state, on the other hand, that considerably more than three or four members of the crew decided lo leave the vessel and that the company exercised its right to disnensc with the ‘•erviccs of the other men. We understand that the men who have been paid off are entitled to a free nassago to their home port and to their hoard until they get there. We arc informed that one-third of the members of the local Seamen’s Union arc at present drawing a relief allowance. Married men are drawing 30s ner week and 6d extra for each child, while single men are receiving £1 per week. The amounts paid were formerly somewhat higher than those quoted above, but the men concerned anproacliod the union and suggested that the allowances should be reduced. We also understand that the sum of fi?2CO baa been sent to Australia for the relief of anv distress amongst New Zealand seamen there.