SEAMEN’S UNION

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 234, 4 May 1933, Page 6

SEAMEN’S UNION

GRAVE HOLD-UP TROUBLE EXTENDS Press Association —Copyright Wellington, May 3. —No settlement has been reached in the dispute between the shipowners and the Seamen’s Union, with the consequence that a grave hold-up of shipping has occurred, and is intensified by the addition of several other vessels to those detained on Tuesday. The only ships to leave port to-day were the ferry steamer Rangatira, which sailed at the usual time for Lyttelton, and the small cargo steamer Tees, which left at a late hour for Dunedin.

Members of the Seamen’s Union met at 8 o’clock this morning and held several lengthy sessions during the day. What transpired is not known, the union officials declining to make any statement. Apparently it was decided to continue to hold up the vessels. It is understood that the crews of the Monowai and the Maunganui were given 24 hours notice of the termination of their engagement at 5 o’clock this evening. The trouble has extended to the Picton steamer Tamahine. Other vessels held up to-night were the cargo vessels Waimarino, Awahou, Gale and Port Whangarei. Ships due to arrive to-morrow are the ferry steamer Maori, and the cargo steamers Wainui from Melbourne, via southern ports, Kapiti, Holmdale and Calm from Lyttelton, Kaimai from Greymouth, Inaha from Patea, Canopus from Westport, Poolta from Gisborne and Gale from Hokitika. History of Negotiations Prior to August of last year seamen in New Zealand were working under an agreement which was not registered in the Arbitration Court, and consequently the men were not subject to the general order of the court making a 10 per cent, cut in award rates. When the seamen’s agreement expired negotiations were carried out for a new agreement. The shipowners’ claims were, in the first place, for a 20 per cent, reduction. This was later reduced to 15 per cent. They also desired several amendments in the conditions of work. In November an agreement was reach-, ed in which the seamen accepted a 10 per cent, reduction, but retained the old conditions. The questions of a further 5 per cent, cut and new conditions of employment were the subjects of a ballot throughout New Zealand, but the result was not favourable of acceptance.

After the result was known a further conference was held between the shipowners and the union without finality being reached. At the conclusion of this conference on April 24 it was agreed that the new conditions offered in October should be put into effect for a month and that a small committee of two from each side should be set up to explore the possibilities of an amicable settlement of the matters remaining in dispute and report back to the full conference at the end of the month. At all ports except Wellington stopwork meetings of seamen held yesterday accepted these arrangements, but at Wellington it was rejected. It is understood that shipowners are not willing to depart from the arrangements, and the seamen’s meeting is still considering whether the arrangements should be endorsed or not. 1 - MEN REFUSE TO SIGN Position at Dunedin Press Association—Copyright Dunedin, May 3.—Though it was reported from various sources this afternoon that there see in,eel no likelihood of trouble at Dunedin it was found later that the Union Company’s coastal steamer Waipiata, which was scheduled to sail this evening, could not be cleared as the men refused to sign on under the new articles. The ship’s articles had expired and new ones were prepared under the conditions outlined in the message received from Wellington, and the seamen were unwilling to accept the terms offered, the stumbling block apparently being certain alterations to the clauses bearing on conditions. No alteration in wages or rates of overtime was proposed in the new articles. No other ship at Dunedin is affected by the situation. The Union Company’s Opihi and the motor vessel Holmglen will sail probably at their appointed times to-night.

ALL CLEAR AT LYTTELTON Press Association.—Copyright. Christchurch, May 3.—Although there were more coastal and intercolonial vessels than usual at Lyttelton to-day no trouble occurred, and vessels scheduled to sail did so without incident. Eumour was current during the afternoon that the ferry steamer Maori might be held up, but this proved untrue, as the Maori sailed at the usual time. Inquiry at New Plymouth shipping offices yesterday showed that no effects of the shipping trouble had yet spread to New Plymouth. No vessels were due from Wellington at New Plymouth during the next few days. Advice had been received from Dunedin that two coastal vessels due at New Plymouth next week were expected to be sailing last night for Timaru as scheduled.