UNION DISCIPLINES CREW

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1930, Page 7

UNION DISCIPLINES CREW

ALL ORDERED OFF THE SHIP

ALLEGEDLY TWO MEN SHORT , TROUBLE ON THE-NIAGARA COMPANY MAKES ANSWER By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Sydney, Nov. 12. The Seamen's Union decided to discipline the crew of the Niagara for allegedly having brought the ship from Auckland to Sydney two firemen short of the complement. The men are not to be allowed to sign on again for the vessel for six months, but they will not be prevented from joining other ships. The Niagara, which will sail to-mor-row, will have to sign on a new crew. One of the Niagara’s crew states that for 18 years the ship has been overstaffed. Most of the men had served on the ship for years, and were well satisfied, and the union's decision was causing dissatisfaction, as no breach of rules has occurred, to justify it. It is understood that some of the disciplined men are discussing the advisability of seeking an injunction restraining the union from giving eflect to its decision. Representatives of the Union Company said they paid higher wages and had* more overtime than any other line on the Pacific run, yet other vessels were never delayed.. “If this sort of thing continues we shall be compelled to place our ships on other articles and employ other than Australian seamen,” said one. Shipping circles are of opinion that the root of the trouble is the desire of unemployed seamen to oust working seamen from their positions. It is pointed out that the Communistic element is prominent in the unemployed ranks. 100 Q MEN RESPOND TO CALL. NEW CREW QUICKLY SECURED. Rec. 9.20 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 13. The Niagara sailed at 5 o’clock for Auckland. A crowd of over 1000 men gathered outside th© shipping master’s office in response to a call for a crew for the vessel, and the new crew was quickly signed on. A Union Company official denies the statement that the company would probably place its ships on articles excluding the employment of Australian seamen following the action of the Seamen’s Union in disciplining 59 members of the deck hand and engine room staff.