SEAMEN'S ACTION CONTRARY TO DIRECTION.

Chronicle (Levin), 16 July 1946, Page 8

SEAMEN'S ACTION CONTRARY TO DIRECTION.

WELLINGTON, July 15. The action of t'he seamen at Westport in refusing to take ships to sea until the (rihana) 's liiulings on the iu'Ovisions of heat and light in the crew's quarters while shipis are in pori has been considered by the national council of the union, was deserfbed today by the national president of the union (Alr. F. 1'. Walshj as^" unconstitutional, and against the direction of the New Zealand Beamen's Union." Alr. Walsli said that when the dispute Jirst arose it was refcrred to the Iiulustrial Tribunal under Alr. J. A. Gilmour, B.AI., the union ilaiming coutinuous light and heating throughout the (Tay for all ships while 111 port. The ships' cngineers, while not opposiug the claim in. principle, pointed out that their members objected to haviug to be on boanl in home ports, and particularlv at weekends, (0 supervise the running of the gear to- supp.lv tlie light and heat as under the' law it ' was r, essen^aJ. to have a certitied engineer alioax^tl ■ vy'jieii tlie gear was running. "The Alagistrate 's decision that bght and heat are to be provided up to;'Il ]).m. in port was considered by tlie management cominittee of the union and as it did not meet the claims made by the union at the tribunal hearing it was decided to suminou the national council of tlie union to discuss the matter at a special meeting in AVellington 011 Wediicsduy, " added Alr. Walsli. "In the mcantiine under the direction of the union tlie crews were expected to take tlie ships to sea, but tliat direction has not been complied witli by the crews in Westport. Their action is unconstitulionai, aml will receivo the attention of Ihe national council of the union. At Lyttelton' a spoeial meeting was held 011. , Saturday to deal witli the proposal 1o tie up all ships in sympathy witli tho uncoiist itutional action by the crews at Westport, but that meeting was unaninious in dircc.ting Ihe men to take the sh'qis to sea, and to allow the matter lo lie deal L with bv Ihe national council."