THE MARINE OFFICERS' TROUBLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1901, 10 July 1890, Page 30

THE MARINE OFFICERS' TROUBLE.

A STRIKE IMMINENT. THE ATTITUDE OF THE MARITIME COUNCIL. The dispute which has arisen between the Marine Officers' Association of New Zealand, of which Sir Robert Stout is president, and thiir employers has now assumed a very serious aspect. Negotiations between the parties are being carried on in Wellington, and very little has been allowed to transpire regarding the progress of the trouble, the representatives of the press being excluded from nearly every meeting between the parties, and only the barest items being afterwards supplied to them. Now, however, that affairs are likely to result in more active measures being taken by both the union and the employers and the correspondence has been published, it is to be seen that the negotiations have not advanced the dispute so near a settlement as the general public were led to believe. At the beginning of last week Captain Highman forwarded a telegram to Mr J. A. Millar, secretary of the Maritime Council, stating that the union meant to fight, and asking what support they tvere Jikely to receive from the Maritime Council in that event. To this Mr Millar promptly replied that the council would not promise their support unless they knew that they were fully justified in according it. Ho also requested fuller particulars, but so far these have not come to hand. On Tuesday- Captain Highman again telegraphed to Mr Millar, stating that the employers having refused to consent to the demands of the union, the men would be called out next Monday. Matters having taken this turn, Mr Millar called a meeting of the Executive of the Federated Seamen's Union to discuss the position of affairs, and also Vhe steps the Maritime Council should take in the event of a strike. It was agreed, after consideration, to forward the following telegram to Captain Higbman : —

Strongly advise delaying extreme action. Vi r e decline to be plunged into trouble before having ample proof that demands refused are reasonable. Everyone considers your demands too numerous and large at ouch. Advise arbitration. In|convereation with a Times reporter on Tuepday night Mr Millar, in reply to a question, said that there are about 300 members in the Marino Officers' Association, or in other words all certificated officers of vessels on the Now Zealand coast. He considered that all serious thought of a strike was very premature, every means to effect a settlement not having been tried, and under theae circumstances, he said, it was not at all likely that the Maritime Council were going to call out 20,000 men over whom thp.y had control. He is hopeful that an amicable settlement will be arrived at in the course of a day or two.

It is reported that the employes of the various banks in the colony are combining to form"a union to sepure higher wages,