SHIP STEWARDS AGREE TO CUT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 142, 17 June 1931, Page 7

SHIP STEWARDS AGREE TO CUT.

DECISION REACHED IN WELLINGTON TO-DAY. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 17. The Cooks’ and Stewards’ Union decided at a meeting this morning to accept the 10 per cent reduction in wages pending the decision of the Arbitration Court on an application to be excluded from the Court’s general order. MAKURA DELAYED AT WELLINGTON. (Special to the “Star.”) WELLINGTON, June 17. It is expected that the Union Company’s liner Makura will not sail for San Francisco before Friday, as the result of the trouble that has»arisen among the cooks and stewards over the wages reduction. The vessel was set down to sail at 3 p.m. to-day’, but the time was onlytentative. Messages last evening stated: All cooks and stewards engaged on New Zealand articles have received 24 hours’ notice of the wage reduction. It is understood that many of the cooks and stewards of the Makura were prepared to sign on but obeyed union orders not to do so. If the cooks and stewards adhere to their decision it is possible that the seamen will refuse to take the ships to sea with free labour. The question will then arise as to whether this will be a breach of the seamen’s agreement which does not expire till July, 1932. The Union Company’s Opihi goes alongside the Waimarino to tranship the latter’s cargo for southern ports. ONLY FOUR VESSELS NOW AT LYTTELTON. The only vessels in Lyttelton to-day, in addition to the ferry steamer, were the Wingatui, loading for Auckland, the Kuku, loading for Nelson and the Waikouaiti, discharging Newcastle coal. So far the port is not affected by the cooks and stewards’ dispute over the cut in wages. In connection with the Waikouaiti, it was reported late yesterday afternoon that the cooks and stewards had been informed that they would be given until to-day to decide whether they would accept the reduced rate of pay. The men concerned would rot give any information this morning. So far this vessel, and also the Wingatui, are not affected. The ferry steamer Maheno arrived on schedule time this morning, and it is thought that she will run in the service until Saturdav without trouble. There is a feeling that there is every likelihood of further developments in the next few days. One rumour heard to-day was to the effect that the Union Company had issued a notice to the cooks and stewards of the Makura at Wellington that the vessel would be despatched for San Francisco at all costs. The South Island directors of the Union Company left for Wellington by last night’s ferry steamer to attend the meeting of directors at Wellington in connection with present shipping troubles. In the meantime the movements of coastal shipping are uncertain. One company is advertising the departure of its ships from Lyttelton as “ early,” not being in a position to give definite dates.

UNEMPLOYED OFFER TO SUPPORT UNIONS. DEMONSTRATION WILL BE HELD IN AUCKLAND. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, June 17. A decision to assure the marine workers’ unions that any call for labour to man the ships held up by the wage dispute woujd meet with a definite refusal by the unemployed was reached at a large meeting of unemployed this morning. It was also agreed to co-operate with organised labour on the waterfront and hold a mass demonstration at the wharves to-morrow. POSITION IN AUCKLAND. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, June 17. There were no developments this morning in the shipping dispute. No ships have bfcen paid off, but the Waimea may be paid off this afternoon. The notice to the cooks and stewards of the Kaimanawa and the Kiwitea expires this afternoon. The Union Company will pursue the same policy with each arriving ship, giving the men twenty-four hours’ notice to accept the lower rates or be paid off. No statement has been made by the Seamen’s Union officials, who are awaiting the outcome of the conference in Wellington. DUNEDIN BELIEVES TROUBLE MAY SPREAD. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, June 17. There'is rather a doleful feeling concerning the prospect of a hold-up of coastal shipping though no trouble has occurred here yet. The Kurow has discharged and has sailed for Oamaru. The Wairuna sails this afternoon. It is believed that the seamen’s plan is to hold up vessels as soon as their voyages are completed. DELAY CANNOT LAST LONG, AGENT STATES. (Special to the “ Star.”) TIMARU, June 17. A prominent Timaru shipping agent interviewed to-day prophesied that any shipping trouble would be smashed within two or three days by means of free labour. lie said . that if the cooks and stewards refused the new conditions, free labour would replace them; if the crews refused to take the vessels to sea, free labour would replace them, and if the wharf labourers refused to work the vessels, volunteer labour, of which there was plenty available, would do the work. The Gale is held up to-day pending developments at Wellington, where negotiations are proceeding. The Storm is getting ahvay to-day. - The arrival of the Ojpihi and Waimarino is delayed because of the trouble.