SHIPPING STRIKE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 236, 6 May 1933, Page 5

SHIPPING STRIKE

Decision to Engage Voluntary Labour

CREW FOR MAUNGANUI Free Labourers Assaulted Press Association. —Copl'psht. Wellington, May 5. The most important development t<>* day in the maritime dispute was the decision of shipowners to engage volunteer labour to m«n the Maunganui and they were successful, it is UtlriWstood, in obtaining a full crew. The MaUHganui is to leave at 10 a.m. to-morrow. Included in the passengers will be those who booked by the Monowai. Northern passengers will arrive at Wellington by the Limited' express to-morrow. In response to a Call for volunteer labour between 20 and 30 nieii early presented themselves for engagement. These included university students, men out of work and returned soldiers, Those applying were signed on and told to report for duty at 2 p.m. No sign of interference from the affected parties was apparent until the volunteers commenced to arrive at the Clyde Quay wharf in the afternoon. A crowd of several hundred people congregated at the vicinity of the entrance to the wharf, to which berth the Maungantli had been moved earlier.

The most serious aspect of the dispute occurred about midday, w.ien two volunteer seamen, after being signed on, were making their way by foot toward the city attd were violently assaulted by about a dozen men, who had left a large group surrounding the wharf entrance. Both men were vigorously manhandled but their assailants soon desisted. Every precaution was taken by the Union Company and the police to ensure the safety of the ci'ew Which is to take the ■ Maunganui to Sydney. The members of the crew arrived in a taxi and each car was followed by another carrying constables. Some of the jeering crowd dispersed at nightfall. The Picton ferry service will be returned to-morrow, the Tamahine leaving at 9 a.m. for Picton and returning to Wellington to-morrow night. Handling of Cargo Waterside workers handled the cargo of all vessels requiring labour. The cargo ships Poolta, Wainui and Waimarino completed discharge and moved into the stream. The only vessels to leave port to-day were the Rangatira, the motorship Gael, the auxiliary scow Kohi and the Talisman. The Rangatira was an hour late in leaving, due to an extra amount of cargo being handled. A meeting of the Alliance of Labour was held this morning, but no statement was available.

Following a fully attended meeting of shipowners this morning a statement was issued to the Press which, after setting out the position leading up to the present position, says the snipowners, in view of the rejection of their proposal* now intend to engage labour for manning the .ships on the conditions agreed upon with the union executive, but including a 5 per ceiu. reduction on the rates ruling up to the end of last month. The ratty now proposed, compared with Australian rates, are: Boatswain, 1930 £l6 4s, less 15 per cent., equal to £l3 15s 6d (Australian rate £l2 14s 3d.'; able ssaman, 1330 £ls 4s, less 15 per cent., equal to i\2 153 fid (.Australian rate £ll Its 3d); ordinary seaman, 1930 £lO 9s, less 15 per cent., equal to is 37s fid (Australian rate, £7 8s (id); fireman, 1930 £l7 4s, less 15 per cent., equal to 514 15s fid (Australian rate £l3 12s 3d); trimmer, 1930 £ls 4s, kss 15 per cent., equal to £l2 15s Gd (Australian rate £ll lfis 3d). In addition to these rates seamen aie "found' while aboard ship. The crews of all vessels will be paid off as the vessels reach their home ports or convenient main ports, and thereafter fresh crews will be engaged on the new conditions and at the loregoing rates of pay. In the case of vessels which are now in ports other than their home ports a proposal has been made to the union that the vessel should proceed direct to its home port under the conditions ruling prior to May 1 and should there be paid off. The Government has not taken steps to intervene in the seamen's dispute, but a very close' watch is being kept. The ' Government has made itself conversant i with the case on both sides.

EXTENSION TO AUCKLAND

Press Association—Copyright Auckland, May 5

The extension of the shipping strike to Auckland was confirmed by a meeting of the Auckland branch of the Federated Seamen's Union to-day. No official announcement was made after the meet- | ing but it is learned that the decision | of the men was to man ships only under j the conditions which were in force prior to May 1. Members of the Auckland union said that according to their advice their representative at the meeting at Wellington had not been denied a hearing, as was stated in a Press Association telei gram, but, on the contrary, had been j listened to attentively. ! Mr. T. F. Anderson, secretary of the i Auckland branch, left by train to-night j for Wellington. I In accordance with the men's decision the Wingatui was not manned and late | to-night she was still lying at the wharf j waiting for the crew to take her to Port- !■ land. The only other coastal vessel at Auckland, apart from those owned by i the Northern Company, engaged on New j Zealand articles is the Paua, which is I loading at Western wharf. j All the Northern Company's vessels ! scheduled to sail to-day go. away at | their appointed time. The seamen eni gaged on these vessels work under j slightly different conditions from those j employed on the other coastal vessels. ! Intending passengers for Sydney have j been notified to keep in touen with the • local shipping office pending arrangei ments being finalised for a special train ! to Wellington this afternoon to connect ] with the steamer from Wellington.

ARAHURA LEAVES

Press Association.—Copyright. Nelson. May 5. The Arahura sailed for Wellington this evening with a full complement of passengers, including a large number of northern pupils at the Nelson colleges who are returning home for the holidays,

FERRY STEAMER SAILS

Vress Association—Copyrferhf Chrisrehmvh. May 5. The cvpws of the Wtukouaifi anoi tiic Waikswa to-da;> ri-fused the owners' offer of , "clnced ;:■'*■' and wcr<* "II g:v«n 24 hour. I *' notice. The crew of ».hc Holm-

I glen also refused the terms and left the ' ship. Eventually the vessel sailed staff- ! ed only by officers and engineers. The j ferry steamer Maori-sailed at the scheduled time. ; The authorities were evidently uneasy tabout the ferry steamer because poiica I reinforcements from the city were on duty at the wharves. It is stated that ! the Union Company had a complete rei Hef crew ready to go on board the Maori j in the event of trouble.

SHIP HELD UP AT \j ! GREYMOUTH

• Press Association. —Copyright. Greymouth, May 4. I The shipping trouble is extending faj j Greymouth. The crew of the Kartfcj has informed the master that they will | not take the ship to sea unless instructed (by the Seamen's Union. The Kaimiro I arrived this morning and is due to sad !on Sunday. A similar action by the i seamen is expected.

; SHIPS IDLE AT WESTPORT

; Press Association— Copyright j Westport, May 5. As a sequel to a meeting of seamen I held at Westport to-night the Kini. the j Carious and the Totara are all held \ up. The Waipahi is due from Auckland to-morrow and is also expected to be j rendered idle.

MAUNGANUI LEAVES WHARF

i Papers Being Cleared for j Departure Press Association —Copyright j , Wellington, Today. • The Maungauui left the wharf and j moved to the stream to clear her i papers. <a SIJS.*S« 1 She has not yet left the stream, j Nobody but passengers were allowed ) on the wharf, and the police kept the j neighbouring streets clear. ; After the ship pulled out a great crowd of strikers demonstrated from j the Te Aro reclamation, boohing and j counting the ship out. An attempt l was made last night to throw off the j mooring ropes of the tug Natonc, which conveyed voluntary labour to j the Maunganui. , j Watchman on the tug Terawhiti j saw the attempt and on nis approach j the man ran away.

MAUNGANUI'S DEPARTURE DELAYED

Press Association. —Copyright. "Wellington, Today. Owing to the fact mat some of the passengers were on the express from Auckland arriving at 0.41 a.m., the departure of the Maunganui, which was set down for ten o'clock this morning, was altered to 11 and subsequently 'has been further delayed till a quarter to 12 owing to the handling of the luggage.

— ! FREE LABOUR ON TAMA--1 HINE

j Wellington, Today. i Manned by voluntary labour, the Tamahiue got away at 1.5 p.m. lor i rictou. |£|