THE SHIPPING TROUBLE

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15100, 22 November 1922, Page 7

THE SHIPPING TROUBLE

NO GUARANTEES YET

SUSPENSION OF SEAMEN’S ACT,

RESENTED BY MARITIME UNIONS

By Telegraph.—Press Association, WELLINGTON, Tuesday.

The shipping companies have not yet received guarantees from the Seamen’s Union that the men will observe the award of the Arbitration Court, and in the meantime ships.continue to be manned by free labour. The union officials have still “nothing to report.” The report from Christchurch that the Wahlne iS- to resume running in the ferry service is not correct. The Mararoa will contihue., There is strsng feeling among the maritime unions because the Government has suspended the Shipping and Seamen’s Act. To-day the executive council of the Federated ■ Cooks and Stewards’ Union sent a telegram to Mr Massey, which alleged that the shipping companies’ demand for guarantees was illegal. The organisation, which has remained neutral up to now, fears that it will be drawn into the dispute against its wishes, and tlierfeore respectfully urges Mr Massey to remove the suspension of the Act, because at present with inexperienced men engaged on the ships the lives of all the crew are endangered. It is stated that, the Marine Engineers’ Institute has taken a similar course to that followed by the cooks and stewards. A telegraph' has also been sent by that body to the Prime Minister, requesting him to bring the Shipping Act into force again.

WATERSIDERS REFUSE WORK

BUSINESS MEN TO RESCUE

WAIROA, Tuesday

The local watersiders this morning refused to discharge the cargoes of the Wiritona and Tuatu or load up the meat shipment. Business men and others did the work in excellent style.

It is understood the men here were not keen on refusing to work, but acted on instructions from Napier.

AUSTRALIAN OUTLOOK

LESS FAVOURABLE SIGNS,

ANOTHER CREW IMPRISONED

(United Press Association.) SYDNEY, November 21

It is proposed lo sign on the Makura’s crew to-morrow. Should a crew not he obtainable the . Makura will miss the trip and be rendered idle for a couple of months.

It is understood that the crew intimated that they will nol sign on until the crews of the Mooraki and Waikawa have been released. It is believed that the'intention is to maintain this position whether the strike collapses in New Zealand or not.

The secretary of the Seamen’s Union stated to-day that he received a cablegram from New Zealand giving quite a different version of how the strike is progressing compared with cablegrams appearing in the Sydney press. The Union Company’s steamer Whangape, which should have proceeded to' Newcastle last night, is held up as two members of the crew absented themselves and the remainder refused to take the vessel to sea shorthanded. The Whangape has been taken into the stream to await developments. Tim first hitch in the company’s Tasmanian run occurred to-day, when the crew of the Kittawa gave notice and sufficient men failed to offer themselves when a new crew was called for. It is understood that the Kittawa will be laid up. When. the ! three members of the crew of the fcoroihiko who were sentenced to a day’s detention for leaving the ship were placed on board yesterday they declined, to work. The remainder of the crew supported them, whereupon the whole crew was arrested on a charge of refusing duty. At the Newcastle Court 22 members o% the crew were found guilty on a charge of disobedience of orders, and were sentenced to 28 days’ imprisonment.

In view of these developments the strike outlook is regarded,, as less favourable.

TWO MEETINGS OF SEAMEN.

< NO INFORMATION GIVEN

WELLINGTON, Tuesday,

A meeting of seamen was held in the Masonic Hall yesterday afternoon, and a further meeting this morning. No information is forthcoming as to what transpired at th.se gatherings, but it is understood that yesterday’s meeting was of a rather stormy character, and that no resolution was carried.