THE WAGES CUT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 140, 16 June 1931, Page 8

THE WAGES CUT

WATERSIDE WORKERS’ APPEAL [ Per Press Association. ] CHRISTCHURCH, June 15. A special stop-work meeting of the Lyttelton watersiders was held this morning to consider a resolution to apply to the Arbitration Court for exemption from the general wage reduction order. The resolution was carried unanimously. POSITION IN WELLINGTON. [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, June 15. There is no change regarding the Katoa and Waimarino. Work has been resumed on the Port Fairy and Port Huon. The former is expected to sail this evening. There are no other waterfront developments. TROUBLE AT AUCKLAND ADJUSTMENT FOR TOFUA MEN 1 Per Press Association. ] AUCKLAND, June 15. The application of the 10 per cent, cut in the wages of cooks and stewards on New Zealand steamers, is resented by some of the men. Difficulty arose on two vessels at Auckland to-day before the Union Company’s island steamer Tofua sailed for Suva. The cooks and stewards demurred when it was proposed that their wages should be reduced in accordance with the general order of the Arbitration Court, and in order that the vessel should not be delayed, the matter was adjusted and the Tofua sailed on schedule. A second dispute occurred on the company’s steamer Waimea, which is engaged in the Auckland —East Coast trade. The vessel arrived from Napier on Sunday and to-day the cook and the steward on board were notified that their wages would be reduced 10 per cent. The men refused to work at the decreased rate, whereupon they were givn 24 hours’ notice of dismissal.

DELICATE SITUATION VIEW IN SHIPPING CIRCLES [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, June 15. There w’ere no fresh developments to-day concerning the position that ias arisen on the waterfront in confection with the application of the .0 per cent reduction in wages of seaarers and waterside workers. In shipping circles, however, the situation is regarded as a delicate one and fraught with potential trouble. No attempt has been made by the Union Company to man either the Waimarino or the Katoa, which have been held up for some days owing to the refusal of the cooks and stewards to sign the new articles embodying the wage reduction. Up to the present no other steamers have been affected by this cause. The ferry steamers Maori and Maheno left Wellington and Lyttelton respectively to-night as usual, no hitch of any kind arising to prevent them sailing. A joint deputation, representing the Merchant Service Guild (masters and •fficers) and the Marine Engineers’ nstitute, met the general manager of he Union Company this afternoon md fully set out the views of hose bodies on the reduction, of which their members have been notified. The conference lasted for 2| hours. A Press representative was informed that a certain proposal was put forward at. the interview for the consideration of the company. The matter was discussed at considerable length, but no decision was reached. I’he Union Company’s representative indicated that the proposal would receive full consideration and a decision would bo communicated later to the Guild and Institute representatives. The Port Fairy, which was held up on Saturday, sailed to-day for Napier, and the Port Huon continued her discharging.