REDUCTION OF WAGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21362, 16 June 1931, Page 8

REDUCTION OF WAGES

TROUBLE IN SHIPPING CIRCLES A DELICATE SITUATION REPRESENTATIONS TO UNION COMPANY (Per Untied Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 15. There "were no fresh developments today concerning the position that has arisen on the waterfront in connection with the application of the 10 per cent, reduction in the wages of seafarers and waterside, workers. In shipping circles, however, the situation is regarded as a delicate one and fraught with potential trouble. No attempt has been made by the Union Company to man either the Waimarino or the Katoa, which have been held up for some days owing to the refusal of the cooks and stewards to sign new articles embodying the wage reduction. Up to the present no other steamers have been affected by this cause. The ferry steamers Maori and Maheno left Wellington and Lyttelton respectively to-night as usual, no hitch of any kind arising to prevent their sailing. A joint deputation representing the Merchant Service Guild (masters and officers) and the Marine Engineers’ Institute met the general manager of the Union Company this afternoon and fully set out the views of those bodies on the reduction of which their members have been notified. The conference lasted for two hours and a-half.

A Dominion representative was informed that a certain proposal was put forward at the interview for the con-

eiderfttion of the company. The matter was discussed at considerable length, but no decision was reached. The Union Company’s representative indicated that the proposal would receive full consideration and the decision would be communicated later to the guild and institute representatives. . The Port Fairy, which was held up on Saturday, sailed to-day for Napier, and the Port Huon continued her discharging.

The Makura is timed to sail at 3 p.m. to-morrow for San Francisco. _ There was a rumour in circulation this afternoon 1 that the stewards of this ship had been I served with 24 hours’ notice to sign new ; articles giving effect to the 10 per cent. ! “cut,’’ but no confirmation of the report ! could be got to-night. | When approached this evening the J managing director and general manager 1 of the Union Company said the position was Unchanged, but they declined to make any’. definite official statement. The latter remarked that the position was a .delicate one. He indicated that the agreement between the shipowners and the Seamen’s Union was binding upon both parties until July, 1932, and for this reason no “ cut ” could be made unless the seamen and the firemen voluntarily' agreed to a reduction in wages. If trouble arises in connection -with the ferry service steamers, it will doubtless be at the en'd of the week. The Wahine, which has been undergoing survey and overhaul at Lyttelton, is due to resume running from /that port on Saturday. There is a possibility that her cooks and stewards may follow the lead of those on the Waimarino and the Katoa and refuse to sign on at the reduced rate of wages. The Maori is to remain at Lyttelton over the week-end to pick up her usual running from that port next Monday night. The Maheno, due at Lyttelton on Sunday, is to go on to Port Chalmers to pay off and lay up.