THE SHIPPING TROUBLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16895, 21 November 1922, Page 4

THE SHIPPING TROUBLE.

♦ MEETING OF SEAMEN.

(Pm* Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Noromber 2U. Following the now development- in the situation there was a meeting «»f seamen in the Masonic Hull. but whether an;.- decision was arrived at nr not the secretary of the federation. Mr AY. T. Young, refused to disclose*. AY hen. seen during the day Mr Young said lie had nothing to say just then. His reply to an invitation to discuss Ai r Bishop’s statement was: “ There is nothing to say about it whatever.” The cooks and stewards held a meet- : ing. but Air Kennedy, the secretary, preserved the same attitude of silence as Air Young. THE SEAMEN’S STIPULATIONS. (Per Pkf.ss Association.) AUOKT.'ANI>, November 20. | The seamen’s meeting decided by an j overwhelming majority to resume work. 1 Subsequently they v.cnt in a body four j, hundred strong to the Government ; shipping office and of) ered their s<’rvices on the vessels, hut would not) have free labour. Another stipulation i was. Unit all seamen signing on' .should ; product' bona ftde ce.nilicates, also . union membership hooks ;u.ly paid up* j The Marine Superintendent replied that : he would report to the Marine Depart- ‘ menfc and local .shipowners. ihe owners subsequently reported the position j to the Shipowners’ Federation. Some j the captain or chief engineer, but were j told that no orders had !>een received . to take men back. Meantime shipown- | ers are manning ships, where possible, i with volunteer labour. THE AT All INF. DEPARTMENT. (Pek Press Association.; AVELT.I XGTON. November 20. '•lie Secretary of Marino said to-day:—-** I have as yet received j no official information as to t.< e | new de;». rture in connection with | the shipping trouble, the offer of 1 j the men. to go back to work and the refusal of the shipowners to take them back unless they will work and keep to the award. AVe always keep a register open* however, for men who want j employment. If these men are genuine j in their desire to go back to work, no j doubt, they will come and register their j names, but up to the present no groat t number of them have done so. Only a j i few individual men have registered. ! ’

THE UNION OFFICIALS. STITT TMIESERVE SILENCE. (Pep. Press Association.) WELLINGTON. Nopember 2 ■ Nothing to say." is still the

cial attitude of ibo Union. In shipping circles it is assumed that the continued silence of officials of the union, combined with the fact that t-lie watersiders have remained at work all through the trouble, with the exception of temporary stoppages at Auckland, Napier and Dunedin, shows that the Seamen's Union is anxious to disclaim any. responsibility for the events of the past ten days.. From the union’* point of view it would probably be argued that tho men acted individually in giving notice to cease work, and that the union was not directly concerned. If this were the case the union might contend, that as the men left their ships without any official negotiations on tho part of the union then they should be taken back without the union being brought into the matter in any way. On the other hand the owners insist upon sonic undertaking being given by the union it-sclj that the hold-up is really at an end. and that in going back to work-the men are accenting the award in a proper spirit. Until some such undertaking is given it is maintained that the shipowners are justified in taking up their present stand. From the shipowners’ point of view it is felt that it is more in tho public interest to allow the ships to be run by free labour than u> run the risk having shipping services held up again after nnioni o , had been taken back at work lor only a short period. The Cm-inna, which arrived at Wellington to-day from Dunedin, brought 100 tons of cement, which is needed for tbe local market. Tho Knituna is to leave Portland about AN ednesday for Wellington. She will also bring a cargo' of cement. Owing to tbe immense shortage caused through the the borough engineer at LowertTutt has been compelled to dismiss Tifteen men. GISBORXE WATERS! DEUS. GISBORNE, November 20. A conference of producers and business men decided to-day to do their utmost to keep the port open in the event of the water.sidefs refraining from work. The Tangaroa, from Napier, was unloaded by a scratch gang tonight. POSITION AT NAPIER. (Per, Press Association.) NAPIER, November 20. A number of seamen who had left j Richardson and Co.’s vessel.-- approach- j ed tho masters of ships this morning \ and offered, to resume, upon which they were referred to the managing director, in answer to whom the men stated they were neffc prepared to give a guarantee to work properly and observe the terms of the award. The seamen also stated that tlieir union could not give a guarantee, as it was not concerned, the men acting individually. The unionists then were informed that under the circumstances their offer to resume could not be entertainedAA’atersiders continue the tactics : adopted last week, and ns a- result the Durham took in frozen meat cargo with tho aid of non-union labour. Several smaller vessels were worked similarly. SITUATION IN AUSTRALIA. ANOTHER CREW ARRESTED. Australian and X.Z. Cable Association. SYDNEY, November 20. The Union Company’s steamer Kauri, after got!ing ready to sail, was held up at Newcastle, owing to four firemen deserting. Two were arrested and sentenced to seven days’ imprison- , ment, and ordered to be placed aboard Live steamer. on a charge of absenting

; themselves without leave. The other i two are missing. J When the Kororr.iko’s three arrested I men were placed aboard they declined Ito work. Tho remainder of the crew ! supported them, whereupon the whole i crew was arrested on w charge of refusing duty. This, following on tlie | imprisonment of two of the Kauri's crew, lias further aggravated the posi- ; tion at Newcastle. The news that the New Zealand seamen were returning to work was not unexpected. Reports were current at the Trades Hall on Saturday that such a move was probable early this week. The union had declared its intention, of restricting the trouble to that section of the Union Company’s vessels trading between Australia and New Zealand prepared to man the company’s vessels tu New Zealand if the imprisoned crews are released unconditionally. MELBOURNE, November 20. The Paloona sailed at noon. The Hauralci is expected to get away Tonight or most of her crew having agreed to rejoin the- ship on the’ same terms as the Paloona’s men. MAKURA DELAYED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian .Bd^N^Cable^Mclatioi 1 . Unless the position changes in the meantime, it is doubtful if the Makura will get away on her scheduled date (Thursday). It is understood that tho crew have intimated that they will not sign on pntil the Moeraki’s and j Waikawa’s crews have lieen released. It is believed the intention is to maintain this position whether tlie ‘-trike collapses in New Zealand fir not.