THE SEAMEN AND THE – SHIPOWNERS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14843, 8 December 1913, Page 7

THE SEAMEN AND THE - SHIPOWNERS.

IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY SIRJAMES MILLS. (SnCIAL TO "THlt FEBeS.'.") • ' DUNEDIN, December 6. - ~ Iq view of the freely expressed opin- ..'■;'...■ ion that tho seamen, regard themselves- : as being in the positida of having been being in tho position of having been virtually lockedrout, a statement from™ ' Sir James Mills on tho positioni exist- .;. ing between tho seamen and tho ship-' . owners was requested to-day, and also a statement as to the possibility of - arbitration between the seamen and the ;! shipowners. , " - : "I can nardly believe/ . Sir James":•:: said, "that that is a correct statement ' of the seamen's attitude. It is true . that in eotno of the steamers first i»f- ; feeted by the waterside worker* , strike the crews wero paid off, but that was simply becauso there was no union ,l labour available to discharge or ■ load cargo, and as the seamen sot tbsir faces against assisting to work cargo .that r " was worked from the wharves by mm-" ' union labour, there was nothing to bo t gained by keeping them on pay. •:</ "Indeed, when this was tried by tb* " Huddart, Parker Gompanjy in respect of. the Victoria, it is notorious ..that, her crew not only would not work cargo ■ or winches, but even took up an obj«o- v tionable attitude towards the Arbitra- , - tion unionists who wero working at the wharves, and also to the new crews shipped. Furthermore, the seamen were . called out by their principal executive in Wellington, and since then tho crews have been withdrawn from all our eteamers. Tbo soamen know that their 4 . positions are open for them, and far* from locking them out, tho company would bo glad to see them return to their pasts, but they muet realise that by holding out longer than will tax the forbearance of the companies, other steps will havo to be taken to man tho steamers.

"Tho companies, so far, have not mado it a condition that tho Union of Seamen should be under- tho Arbitration Act (as has done with tho watersiders), but their patienco and forbearance cannot be maintained indefinitely. Tho eeaincn and firemen must realise that tho position they now take up of blocking transport is made possible by the legislation that has been formulated from time to time, in many cases at their own instance. That there was no need for this has been brought homo to the community, for it is becoming increasingly evident that in modern steamships tho positions of aramen and firemen do not require the sr.rne skill as in times gone by, and, that, in fact, any capable man can become expert 'with very littlo experience. I fail to see what there is in tho position between tho seamen and the com- - parties that calls for arbitration. Thare. is no dispute as to 'conditions of labour and tho men's positions :iro open to them. It has always been understood that arbitration is what the - unions Trill not submit . to. If the - seamen's and firemen's opinions hare changed m this respect, .ail they have ' to do is to register under the Arbitration Act, where ample machinery - is prorided for dealing with any dispute — as regard* labour.

"It imist not bo supposed that the Company has held aloof from tb«

" seamen in any way. The door is open - TThern, arid their executive officers "know that. Indeed, when a few days 1 " aco it was announced that tho union would appoint delegates to wait on the VJ Company, they were prompt y advised that the management would be onlj __ too pleased to moot them.