MANY SHIPS IDLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 141, 17 June 1931, Page 8

MANY SHIPS IDLE

REJECTION OF “CUT” THE COOKS AND STEWARDS DEVELOPMENT OF TROUBLE STOPPAGE NOW WIDESPREAD (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Juno 16. Twenty vessels are likely to be rendered idle in Auckland through the refusal of tho cooks and stewards on the New Zealand articles to accept tho ten per cent reduction in wages. Tho trouble experienced with the Tofua and Waimea developed extensively to-day, and it is possible that every coastal vessel at Auckland and Onchunga will bo involved in the dispute. Representatives, both of tho shipping companies and of the men decline to commeut on the situation on tho ground that tho dispute is being handled in Wellington. Tho trouble at Auckland originated with the cooks and stewards on the Tofua and Waimea. In order that the Tofua’s departure for Suva should not be delayed, an adjustment was made, but tho Waimea’s trip to the East Coast was cancelled. Similar action has been taken with the Kaimanawa and Kiwi tea, tho crews of which will be paid off to-morrow. The Niagara sailed for Sydney, her crow being on tho Australian articles. The Marama sailed for Wellington, and tho question of reduced v ges will not arise until tho vessel reaches Wellington.

All local coastal vessels carrying cooks and stewards aro involved in tho trouble. Tho men have refused tho reduced wages, but the owners have not yet settled on a line of action. UNION INSTRUCTION SEAMEN AND FREE LABOUR (Per Pre> Association.! WELLINGTON, Juno 16. It is understood that many of the cooks and stewards on tho Makura wero prepared to sign on, but obeyed tho union orders not to do so. If tho cooks and stewards adhere to the decision it is possible that tho seamen will refuse to take tho ships to sea with free labou . Tho question will then arise as to whether this will bb a breach of tho seamen’s agreement, which does not expire till July, 1932. Tho Union Company’s OpiH goes alongside the Waimarino to-morrow to tranship the latter’s cargo for southern ports. MAKURA HELD UP (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 16. The Makura, due to sail for San Francisco at 3 p.m. to-day, has been held up through the cooks and stewards refusing to accept engagement at wages reduced by ten per cent. Departure has been postponed until noon tomorrow. All the cooks and stewards engaged on the New Zealand articles have received 24 hours’ notice of the wage reduction. The inter-island ferries departed this evening on time, no move having been made by the members of the crew. No further attempt has been made to man either the Waimarino or the Katoa. There are no other developments on the waterfront. SITUATION AT LYTTELTON (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH( Juno 16. It was expected to-day that trouble with the cooks and stewards in consequence of tho wages “cut” would extend to tho coastal ships at Lyttelton, but no developments has occurred. It was tho intention of at least one largo shipping company to have a clause inserted in the ships’ articles providing for a ten per cent reduction in wages to all ratings other than members of tho New Zealand Seamen’s Union. For some reason, possibly because of the appeal of the cooks and stewards now pending, notice was not served. GALE HELD UP } Per Press Association. ] TIMARU, June 16. Tho coastal vessel Gale, which arrived at Timaru on Sunday with a cargo of coal, and which was to have sailed this evening, is held up on account of the cook and steward refusing to sign on under the new agreement involving a ten per cent cut. When tho new agreement was presented to tho men concerned, they refused to sign, acting under instructions from their organisation.

NOT FULL 10 PER CENT AUCKLAND TRANSPORT BOARD I Per Press Association. / AUCKLAND, June 16. The Auckland Transport Board has decided to reduce salaries and wages by 10 per cent as from .July 1 for a period of three months, but the “cut” is not to apply to the first £lOO of any employees’ salary or wages. The effect of the cut will be a gen oral reduction of 6j per cent.