THE P. AND 0. COMPANY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143786, 9 May 1912, Page 3

THE P. AND 0. COMPANY.

DEMAND FOB WHITE SEAMEN. TWO NEEDED FOR EACH BOAT. By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. LONDON, May 8. Tho Peninsular and Oriental Company’s dispute is centred on the Median's crow of 326, of whom 144 are Europoatfis, and only ton are ablebodied seamen. The union demanded that forty white seaman be carried. Tho newspapers state that a hundred of tho crew declined to sign on. Tho Mooltan’s officers state that the crow held a meeting in the saloon, and, considering the union’s instructions unreasonable and hasty, declined to leave the ship. The London District Transport Workers’ Federation, representing a hundred thousand men, has resolved to support tho strikers and send a deputation to the company. The Orient Lino has already agreed to carry two efficient white seamen to each lifeboat. Tho Morning Post states that ten seamen are insufficient and if the P. and 0. Company is unwilling to raise the complement it ought to be forced to do so by law.

DEPUTATION FROM UNIONS. THE COMPANY STANDS FIRM. (Received May 9, 1 p.m.) LONDON, May 8. A deputation of the Seamen’s, Dockers’, Clerks’ Stevedores’, Stewards’, Cooks’, Butchers’ and Bakers’ Unions supporting tho Sailors and Firemen Union complained to tho P. and 0. Company of tho engagements of nonunionists, adding that unless their demands were granted there would be a general strike. The Company replied that it was unable to accept the conditions formulated by the ■deputation, but it was willing to slightly modify the existing conditions, but in other respects was obliged to defend its position. Under the Merchant ShijJping Act tho Mooltan’s life boats were sufficient to accommodate three times the number carried on the present voyage. It was impossible to substitute English seamen for Lascars in the tropics to any large extent.

After receiving the reports of tho deputations tho Transport Workers Emergency Committee resolved that the proper management of the boats in tho interests of human safety was far too important to bo decided by a strike. The whole matter therefore will bo referred to the National Executive