NO SETTLEMENT BEFORE ELECTIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16904, 1 December 1922, Page 5

NO SETTLEMENT BEFORE ELECTIONS.

(1* ER I" R C.ss A i*aOt lAT ION.) WELLINGTON.. November 30. To-nighi. mght a slight change in connection with the seamen’s dispute, cut the po.-iii »n sf.il) is l.hat the SUipoymh!\>’ Federation is awaiting a definite move by the Sjcairicu’.s Federation. Various boats are still running under free labour, and that will be the position until some Mop is taken by tho men’s representatives. However, it is now almost certain that the trouble will not be >•■•-.tied before the election. T'he shipowners appear to bo quite satisfied with the way the crews are working, but inquiries among the idle inclined to treat the free, labourers with seme measure of contempt. The novelty is wearing off,” said one union .seaman, to a reporter, and the raw hands arc getting pretty fed up with the job. It takes many more of them to do tho work, and the shipowners must be thinking hard about the extra cost.” Mr W. T. Young, secretary of the Seamen’s Federation, remains reticent regarding the general situation, and had little t-o say when spoken to. 1 1 is well known that tho shipowners have laid it down that they will not accept union labour unless ami until a guarantee is given by tho Seamen’s Federation that tho award will be adhered to in tuturv On the other hand the fSeamen's Federation states that- no communication with regard to guarantees has been received from the Shipowners’ Federation, and that it. is not the former’s way of doing business in ■taking cqgm*i.nee of newspaper reports. Sonic interesting light is thrown upon this phase of the dispute by the correspondence that has passed between th* two federations. In this connection late this afternoon Mr Bishop received the following communication from Air Young: ” T have to acknowledge receipt- of your letter of that date. I am instructed by the National Council to advise that the* suggestion that, a meeting of representatives of shipowners and this federation be held to discuss any matter appertaining to the position existing will be considered oo the council re-assembling next. week, and a reply will be transmitted at the earliest.” It was learned late' this afternoon that, the meeting of the Dominion executive of the Seamen’s Federation ha<l concluded, and that tho delegates had departed for their homes. Jfc is generally considered that this means that- there will be n o settlement before the elections, at a».v rate, ae it is not likely that the executive will reassemble before the end of next week. The delegates will discuss the question with their members in various districts, s i that they will he thoroughly equipped on their return fo Wellington • This step lias been made necessary.” stated Sir Young. owing to the impression created by the Press that the men were backing down.”