SHIPPING DISPUTE

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 49

SHIPPING DISPUTE

A SETTLEM ENT REACHED. MR MASSEY’S SUCCESSFUL MEDIATION. WELLINGTON, January 22. Tlie seamen's dispute, which has been in progress since the first week in November, has come to an end, and it is officially stated that the seamen and firemen will be ready to sign on at all ports in the dominion at 8 a.m. to-morrow. A meeting of seamen was held in Wellington this morning, and this afternoon the goneral secretary of the Federated Seamen’s Unions, Mr W. T. Young, made the following statement: — With the exception of Auckland, reports are now to hand from all the ports involved indicating that members of the seamen’s organisations have terminated the present position so far as they are concerned, and at 8 o’clock to-mor-row morning at all ports they will present . themselves for employment on the ships. This is the result of an interview our Executive Couneii had with the Prime Minister at noon on Thursday, in which Mr Massey gave his definite assurance that as soon as he had received official word from our organisation that we would return to work, the Shipping and Seamen’s Act would be reinstated. I propose to convey this information to Mr Massey immediately, so that steps may be taken by Cabinet to-morrow to reinstate the suspended law. To those who hare rendered our members and their wives and children any assistance during the period of our unfortunate lock-out since November 20, the seamen’s organisation desires to extend its heartfelt thanks, together with the assurance that their generosity will not be overlooked. ASSURANCE GIVEN BY UNION MEMBERS WELLINGTON, January 23. The seamen’s dispute is regarded by (he Shipowners’ Federation as definitely over, an assurance having been given that union members will accept employment under the award conditions and work with the men now employed on the ships. This assurance was conveyed to the Prime Minister’s private secretary to-day by telephone. In response to the inquiry, “Are members of the Seamen’s Union willing to work with the free labour which up to the present has been employed on the boats?” Mr Young (secretary of the Seamen’s Union) replied: “Members of the union will present themselves to fill the vacancies as they occur «n the ships, ami members of the Seamen’s Union are willing to work with any men at present employed on the ships.” Mr Young stated this afternoon that he would decline to answer any further statement of the Shipowners’ Federation, which h© declared was not a legally recognised organisation and therefore was not a party

to the award. Mr Young added: “Had it not been for the unwarranted interference of the Shipowners’ Federation the seamen's dispute would have been settled in the first week.” In reply to a question, the Prime Minister stated that he had received a short letter from Mr Young stating that members of the union were prepared to offer themselves for work at 8 o’clock this morning. There was no other condition mentioned, and it was not his business to ask Mr Young for conditions. He had given the representatives of the Seamen’s Union dearly to understand that when the existing trouble was over the suspension of the Shipping and Seamen Act would be removed; but there must be a genuine settlemmt arrived at. He was not acting for either party, and had no intention of imposing or asking for conditions from the parties involved. UNION’S GUARANTEE RECEIVED. WELLINGTON, January 23. The shipping dispute is now definitely at an end and the men are returning to work. Mr L. Hammond (acting secretary to the Shipowners’ Federation), interviewed by a reporter, said that tire Seamen’s Union, having given the Prime Minister an assur ance that its members will accept employment under the award conditions and that, they will work with,the men now employed on the ships, the shipowners regard the trouble as ended. He had, he added, nothing further to say on the matter. “My own opinion is that the trouble is over,” stated the Prime Minister to-night The Prime Minister has issued for publication the foliovving memorandum given to him by his private secretary (Mr F. D. Thomson) by telephone: “I pi it the following question to Mr Young (secretary of the Seamen’s Union) : Are the members of the Seamen’s Union willing to work with the free labour which up to the present has been employed on the boats? Mr Young states that the members of t.he union will present themselves to fill the vacancies as they occur on the ships, and that the members of the Seamen’s Union are willing to work with any men at present employed on the ships.” It was not until mid-day that an assurance was received that the Seamen’s Unibn had agreed to the above and other conditions laid down by the shipowners. The union stated that it would obey the terms of (he Arbitration Court award, and as soon as the shipowners on their part accepted the guarantee the signing on of the men in Wellington commenced. On the men’s assurance being given it was communicated to the represent:.,,. r-e,s of the Shipowners’ Federation. Telegrams were sent to all the shipping companies m New Zealand to the effect that the necessary guarantees had been given, and that union labour might be employed. As far as the men on the ships are concerned those in jobs requiring qualifications and who hold those qualifications will be retained, and those having no qualifications and who do not need them for the work they are doing will also be retained. In case of men holding positions which require qualifications and who do not possess tneee, «u;y will be replaced, for the shipping com-

panies gave no obligation that their services would be retained in the’event of a settlement being reached, and this was clearly understood by those men. The terms which the Seamen’s Union has accepted are the same as have been held out for a settlement | for the last ten weeks. It is stated that many union members will have to seek some other avenue of employment. STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF MARINE. WELLINGTON, January 24. The shipping trouble is over, stated the Minister of Marine this evening. Instructions were given to-day to the Secretary of Marine in Wellington to bring into operation the suspended section 57 of the Shipping and Seamen’s Act, which was held up in order that shipowners could keep their vessels ir. commission by employing unqualified men. The suspension of the section has now been cancelled, and therefore the vessels in the New Zealand articles on arriving at home ports must comply with the provision of the Act relating to manning by qualified men only. NORMAL CONDITIONS RETURNING. AUCKLAND, January 25. The Northern Company signed on a number of unionists to fill the vacancies in their vessels to-day owing to the services of unqualified seamen being no longer permitted. However, the company is providing for volunteer workers by finding them positions on the river bo-ts, which do not require qualified men. 'I he Auporiri, which has been laid up for some time, took on a unionist crew and sailed for Hokianga. The Union Company’s boats. Kaiwarra and Kurow, will, take unionist crews next week. SEAMEN’S CAMP BROKEN UP. CHRISTCHURCH, January 25. Advice has been received- by all snipping agents at Lyttelton that the clause in the Shipping and Seamen Act which refers to the manning scale of crews has been reinstated. The free labourers are, however, permitted to remain on the vessels until the arrival of the ship at the port at which the men signed on. A fair number of idle seamen must have found employment, for there was a very noticeable difference to-day in the number of men waiting engagement and standing about the Post Office corner compared with the number to be seen yesterday, Some men have been notified to proceed to other ports to join the ships which they left when the trouble started. The seamen’s camp at Governor's Bay, which billeted about 30 men, was broken up yesterday, and the men are now in Lyttelton seeking employment. So far as can be ascertained, no free labourers have yet been discharged from the ships, but there is a possibility that some men, especially those working on the decks, may have to be de-rated, as they do not hold the necessary qualifications. LABOUR COMMITTEE S PROTEST. The Otago Labour Representation Committee carried, the following resolution at its meeting last week:---“That this meeting of the Otago Labour Representation Committee strongly protests against: the action of the Minister of Marine in, continuing to violate a clause of the Shipping Act which has been reinstated after having been suspended during the period of the seamen’s trouble in so far rs the marine superintendent at Dunedin has been instructed to permit all unqualified

labourers now employed on board ship (o return to their home ports before being discharged from service. This constitutes a distinct breach of the Merchant Service Shipping Act, which provides that only in the event of qualified men not being procurable, then and in such ease, can unqualified men be engaged. The necessary rummer of qualified men are now available, and therefore the retention of unqualified men in the shipping service is a distinct breach of the Act, and is covered by penalising clauses. It is quite evident that (his latest move is purely being engineered < n behalf of the Shipowners’ Federation, and we strongly protest against the law being violated to serve any interests. We now demand that the Government immediately insist upon the Shipping Act being carried out in its entirety. We also consider that me action referred to is a breach of the assurance of the Prime Minister that the Act would be reinstated in its entirely.” TROUBLE ON WAHINE. CHRISTCHURCH, January 28. Early on Saturday evening an affray occurred in the ferry steamer Wahine as a result of which a fireman' is under arrest on a charge of assault and two other unionfind themselves ashore without a ship. The trouble occurred in the quarters of the stokehold crew. There were three union firemen in the Wahine, (he remainder being non-unionists. The man under arrest is alleged to have struck a non-unionist over the head with an iron bar. The other free labourers at. once, it is alleged, adopted a menacmg attitude towards the unionists, and the intervention of the officers was necessary. Captain Cameron ordered the three union men ashore, and one was placed under arrest. The others will be paid off tomorrow. NEW WATERFRONT UNION. WELLINGTON, January 27. Registration of the recently-formed new union on the Wellington waterfront has been refused by the Registrar. Advice to this effect has been received by the existing union in a letter from Mr Rowley stating: “I have to say that the advice of the Crown Law Office has now been received, and in accordance therewith it has been decided that the matter is one for the Arbitration Court to determine. To enable this to be done, registration is refused.” The secretary of the existing union points out that if the applicants wish to go ahead they will have to come out into the open and disclose their identity. THE LOCAL POSITION. As a result of the announcement by the secretary of the Federated Seamen’s Union that members can now apply for positions on vessels, the local branch of the union was hesieged on Tuesday by men anxiously inquiring what the position was. There are over 200 union seamen, firemen, and trimmers out of work in Dunedin, but It will be some time before even half of this number secure positions. Mr S. K, Sleigh, on being asked to make a statement, said that as the seamen’s representatives had given the necessary assurances required by the shipping owners, instructions had been issued to fill any vacancies in crews with union labour. The local members of the Federated Seamen’s Union are still very much discontented with the present position. 'The union olncials report that (bey have not yet received a reply from the Marine Department as to what is the exact position in connection with the Shipping Act. 'The secretary, Mr Clarke, stated on Saturday that if the Shipping Act had been reinstated, the Marine Department was not enforcing it, as otherwise vessels would not lie given their clearances unless they complied strictly with the requirements of the Act. Mr Massey had promised that the Shipping Act would be reinstated, but he had broken his promise. A T erv few men. concludeu Mr Clarke, had been fortunate enough to secure employ merit, and only a small number had gone to northern ports in an attempt to secure work.