WELLINGTON SEAMEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3804, 8 February 1927, Page 48

WELLINGTON SEAMEN.

THE RIVAL FACTIONS. SUPPORT FOR OFFICIALS. WELLINGTON, February 1. In a resolution .carried at a meeting of seamen held in Wellington to-day indignation and alarm were expressed at the action of a number of persons in taking possession of the Federated Seamen’s Union office in Featherston street on the afternoon of January 26, and forcibly removing from the premises the officers in charge. The meeting was not open to the press, but the secretary (Mr W. T. Young) stated later that it had been well attended, a significant feature being that a large number of men from the ships in port were present. Mr Young stated that the meeting had . unanimously carried resolutions regretting the entrance to the offices and the ejection of the officers, and pledged the executive their solidarity and" moral and financial support. They further instructed the, executive to engage temporary offices, if unable to regain immediate possession of the Featherston street offices. They pledged themselves to boycott the instigators of the arbitration unions which were now registered, believing this registering of a union under the Arbitration Act a move on the part of a few office-seekers that would lead to the breaking up of conditions and the lowering of wages. ALLEGED ATTEMPTED DISRUPTION. WELLINGTON, February 2. The lately appointed executive of the Wellington branch of the Federated Seamen’s Union, in an official statement today regarding the present dispute, and outlining the steps leading up to the dismissal of the old executive, alleges that Mr W. T. Young, with about 150 men under his charge, is trying to disrupt the old federation of some 3000 men. The only people responsible for the passing of the resolutions cancelling registration under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and registering under the Trades Union Act, the statement says, were the seven members of the selfcreated executive. The others present were not consulted. The officers who brought this new organisation into existence appointed themselves officers of it for 12 months without going to a ballot. This executive was Messrs 0. B. Fittes (general president), -E. Brown and J. Payne (general vicepresidents), D. Currie (general treasurer), F. C. Howell (general assistant secretary), W. T. Young (general secretary). This executive was alleged to have transferred funds (over £2600) to the new organisation. On December 16 the executive closed the account of the association. It also decided to terminate the Lyttelton agency and dismiss the agent there (Felix Newfield), who had been elected to the position by 1371 members. It was at this stage that, at a stop-work meeting, resolutions were passed requiring the return to the Wellington local beamen s Union of all funds transferred from its to the N.Z. Federated Seamen’s Union, also a commission comprising three seagoing members from each branch to be set up to go into the present dispute, and the principle of national nominations. The new organisation, in the race of these resolutions, carried on with its formation, using the funds belonging to the Wellington local branch. The commission, comprising three delegates each from Auckland, Dunedin, and Wellington sat for 10 days at Wellington, and on January 25, 1927, called a special stop work meeting at which 183 members attended. The commission’s recommendations were adopted in their entirety by 181 votes to 2. The ejection of the officials in the Featherstone street office, as rePfrted, followed on that meeting. At that time Mr- Young had 419 members in his new association, but 160 had since transferred back to the original federation. Resolutions unamomusly endorsing Hie commission’s • report and the action of the executive were passed at stop work meetAskland, Lyttelton, and Dunedin. Mr F. Newfield has announced he would offer to contest a ballot of all New Zealand seamen against Mr Yountr. the loser to pay all expenses and abide bv the decision of the membership.

REMOVAL OF SECRETARY. , AUCKLAND, February 4. . A*'® action taken by the Seamen’s Union in Wellington to remove from office Mr , ung. general secretary of the I'ederated Seamen’s Union, was endorsed at a seam en held at Auckland. * °, Shea > assistant secretary of the Auckland Seamen’s Union, said the attendances at this and similar meetings were’ Auckland 289. Wellington 215. and Dunedin 150, making a total of 654. All the members present not only endorsed the action of the Wellington men in removing Mr x oung from office, but also were in. favour of the Wellington branch being registered under the Arbitration Act. These facts formed convincing evidence th at the great body of seamen in all the chief centres was in fave r of the removal of Mr Young. It had been stated that a section of the men in Wellington had expressed indignation at the action of certain members in taking possession of the union office and forcibly removing the officers in charge. That statement could go for what it worth in the light of the. resolutions that had been carried endorsing the action of the Wellington men.