THE MERCANTILE MARINE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 53

THE MERCANTILE MARINE.

BEEF FAMINE-THREATENED. (Fkou Oue Own Cobbespondent.) GREYMOUTH, October 10. As all the steamers usually trading between Greymouth and' the west coast ports of the North Island are laid up on account of the shipping dispute, a beef famine is threatened on the West Coast, the local markets depending entirely on small supplies from South) Westlarid. The-position will reach an acute stage unless the Wanganui service is restored' by next week.

"PASSIVE RESISTERS." WELLINGTON, October 11. The officers and owners, so far as the Merchant .Service Guild dispute is concerned, to-day are mostly passive resistors. Captain Watson, secretary of the guild, states that the officers are asking considerably higher wages than what the owners are prepared to give on the smallest class of boats. The claims are, in fact, on the lines of the Australian award. By framing the demands so the guild considers it is letting the owners down lightly, because the cost of Jiving is so much greater in this country than in the Commonwealth, and also by reason of the drastic sight tests applied by the Union Company. The officers would not work unless overtime was paid'.

BREEZE LAID UP. CHRISTOHURCH, October 13. The Canterbury Steam Shipping Company's steamer Breeze arrived at Lyttelton' at 8 o'clock this morning; from Bluff. All 'hands were paid off this afternoon, only the master and one engineer stand ing by. The vessel will be laidl up until such time as a settlement of the shipping dispute is reached. SERIOUS EFFECTS IN WANGANUI. SMALL PROSPECT OF SETTLEMENT. ' WANGANUI, October 16. The imarine officers' strike is causing great inconvenience here, and unless settled in a few -days several industries will have to be closed, down. The strike lias been of benefit to potato growers here, who haVe fairly large supplied. They will now be able to quit at improved prices, owing to the non-tarrival of Southern tubers. WELLINGTON, October 16. Information from a reliable source states that prospects of a settlement of the coastal [officers' dispute are not very favourable. I The Breeze has gone- on to Wanganui, the | Canterbury. Shipping Company having paid the rates of wages demanded by the Merchant Service Guild to enable her to make the trip. The Himitangi was to have left for Foxton, but it has now been decided to send her hack to the Chathams to-night.