MEETING OF SEAMEN.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14840, 4 December 1913, Page 8

MEETING OF SEAMEN.

FEDERATION OF LABOUR METHODS CO"-*?Dl_-V_-:-r__I). EFFORTS TO EFFECT A SETTLEMENT. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGB-_-.) DUNEDIN, December 3. A meeting of the Dunedin Seamen's' Union was held thiß afternoon to consider the position of the branch in regard to the present trouble. About 170 members were present, and the President of the executive (Mr Murdoch McKenzie) 'presided. Messrs Mackie and Jack (representing the Auckland branch of the union) and* J. Baker and J. Shepherd (the Wellington delegates), addressed the meeting, giving detailed accounts of the operations in their respective centres. This met with the general approval of the meeting. A proposal to take a secret ballot on the question whether they should resume work was defeated by the meeting by an overwhelming majority, only 17 voting in favour of the proposal on a show of hands. A discussion ensued on the methods of the Federation of Labour, which were generally condemned. The action of the" Auckland branch, whose members still adhere to the telegram to the Dunedin branch advising it to ignore Mr Belcher, was also condemned. Mr Belcher addressed the meeting, and traced the progress of the Seamen's Union, which he said had nursed the Auckland and Wellington seamen/to their present condition. His reward -for that had been abuse. An ultimatum was received from the Union Steam SBip Company, stating that if work was not resumed by Saturday, it would take steps to have the vessels; manned by free labour. In this connexion Mr Belcher stated that he now intended to take a further hand in the fight. He had used all possible means at the conference in Wellington to effect a. settlement, but the majority against him had been too strong. The meeting, which lasted about two and a half hours, closed with a unanimous vote of confidence in Mr Belcher. To-morrow another meeting will be held by the local executive and the four visiting delegates. It is stated on good authority that the meeting will "decide to approach the Union Company with a view to securing the services of his Honour Mr Justice Williams, as arbi-* trator on the position which has arisen between the seamen and the company.