SHIPPING ACT SUSPENSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18758, 11 January 1923, Page 5

SHIPPING ACT SUSPENSION

DEPUTATION TO PRIME MINISTER. FUTURE POSSIBILITIES DISCUSSED. ALLIANCE MAY CALL GENERAL STRIKE. (Peb United Pbess Association.) WELLINGTON, January 10. A deputation representing the New Zealand Labour Party, the Alliance of Labour, .and the Federated Seamen’s Union waited upon the Prime Minister and the Minister of Marine and ’Labour to request that the suspension of Section 57 of the * Shipping and Seamen Act, which enables the employment of non-unionist labour on ships, should be removed. The Seamen’s Union has been contending that travelling at sea has been rendered dangerous because of the fact that many of the men who are 'now manning the vessels are not qualified seamen, but the Minister has shown that full precautions have been taken by the Marine Department to ensure the safety of the lives cf passengers. Section 57 (1) of the Shipping and Seamen Act reads: The Minister rtiay, if ho thinks lit and upon such conditions {if any) as he thinks fit to impose, exempt any ship from any specified requirement contained in or prescribed in pursuance of the principal Act, or of this Act, or dispense with the observance of any such requirement in the ease of any ship, if he is satisfied (hat that requirement has been substantially complied with in the case of that ship, or that the compliance with such

requirement is unnecessary m the eircvnstanoes of the case and that the action taken or the provision made in respect to the subject matter of the requirement in the case of the ship is as affective as or more effective than the actual compliance with the requirement. The deputation to the Prime Minister and Mr Anderson was introduced by Mr P. Fraser, M.P. Among those present were — Messrs T. Brindle (president of the New Zealand Labour Party), A. L. Monteith, R. M'Kcen, M. J. Mack (president of the New Zealand Alliance of Labour), W. T. Young (general secretary of the Federated Seamen’s Union), a."ml members of the executive of the Alliance of Labour and of the National Council of the Seamen’s Union. The interview was conducted in camera. Subsequently the Prime Minister announced that there was no statement to make.

In the event of the Government refusing to remove the suspension of the Shipping Act, it is not known what the next, step of (ho seamen will be, although it is suggested that the union may call (ho dispute off and allow the men to get bade to the ships on (ho best terms possible. Tins would mean that the unionists would acquiesce in the shipowners’ determination not to dismiss qualified non-unionist seamen. which tin 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 the hands of the Alliance of Labour, which has already publicly expressed it.s willingness to give the seamen nil the support in its power. The fact that the Alliance of Labour was represented on this morning's deputation lends colour to the belief that there have been negotiations between the union and the Alliance already. A meeting of (he executive of the Alliance of Labour may be called within a few days - The Alliance is at present conducting a ballot on the question of opposing the recent waged reductions. The result of (ho waterside workers’ ballot concerning (heir 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 (he end of this month, the Alliance of Labour may ocu rider the advisability of at(einp(ir>it +*• bring about.a. general cessation of work on the part of the affiliated organisations, partly as a protest against, (be wages reductions, and partly out of sympathy with the seamen and watersidera. It. lias not yet, been disclosed how (ho watorsiders hive voted, but it is thought that, if they have balloted against accepting their own award (he result nr.iv bo kept secret, until (ho Alliance of Labour ballot is counted after January 15. The seamen, in all probability. would cast (heir votes in (he Alliance ballot, in favour of a strike, if by so doi’vr (hey considered that, there was possibility of oil the awards being reviewed bv the. anlhorit ies, mid especially in view of the fact (hat they are the only organisation which has so far put its protest into practice.

The whole position is somewhat complicated. for. quite apart from the Alliance, ballot, (ho seamen may prefer to go hack to wo'-k now, build up a strong lighting fund, and (hen resume hostilities rgniiisri. (he shipowners when the Arbitration Court's award expires in Reptember. Ruyli course of action is understood to have been recommended. If it is followed out then it is likely that, (he i hipownors would again man (he ships with free labour, ami if the seamen cancelled their registration under the Arbitration Aet a new union would be formed. If the watorsiders have voted in favour of accepting their own award, (hey may yet. have to go out on strike, if (he maiority of the votes cast in the Alliance cf Labour ballot, is sufficient to swamp (ho wishes of (ho watersi dors as an individual organisation.