WAITING FOR THE U.S.S. CO.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1261, 17 October 1911, Page 5

WAITING FOR THE U.S.S. CO.

THE IDLE STEAMERS. "WHAT LEAD WILL BE GIVEN? Captain D. J. Watson, secretary of the Morehant Service Guild, went south by tho Maori last night, on bis way to Dunedin, whero ho is to act as solo assessor for tho guild in Ihe dispute with tho Union Steamship Company. Tho dispute arises (as lias already been stated) out of a deniann by tho officers of vessels [or higher monthly wages, and for payment for overtime. It is expected that the overtime question will ,irovo tho most difficult question to settle, and, as it is stated that tho company will refuse to grant the overtime demands, prospects of an amicablo settlement do not look very bright. Neither owners nor tho mates of tho small coasters (now lying up) aro doing anything in the meantime, preferring to await tho issuo of tho conference cmCCTiiing tiio rates of pay on the lar,'?r Union Company vessels, for both sides recognise that they must bo guided to somo extent by that result. Tho Breeze, tho voyage of which to southern ports gave riso to eome rather startling rumours, is to come to her port of destination, Wanganui, and discharge her cargo there. Tho owners (the Canterbury Steam Ship Company) have agreed to pay the officers the rate of wages deniandcd, and also overtime for the trip, in order to deliver tho cargo to the consignees.

The dsadlocK has brought extia freight | to tho railways, which, since the boats wero taken off their running, havo bsen engaged in carrying a good deal of merchandise wlrch had previously boon freighted by wafer to Tatea o.nd."Wancaaui. Tho EltJiom "Argus" is responsible for the following:—The present deadlock in tho coastal shippi.ig trado ie having n sonous effect on trado and industry in this province, owing to tha uuposnbilitv of getting shipments through Pate, ft was reported that tho Paten Freezing Works will close down owing to inability to swure coal supplies. If this is so, the chief local industries 'HI 1* sorjouslv retarded. An ElHham merchant infoi-inm' an Argiis" representative last week thai tome stocks a-ro getting low, and there is no way of replenishing tiiem except by paying enormously increased freights by bnnninsr tho goods over the railways while tho port of Paten is blocked. If the Union boats are so laid up the position will be infinitely worse. AN ILL WIND. BRINGS BAD AND GOOD. (By Tolegraph.-Prcse Association.! . Wanpanui, October 15. J. he interference with coastal trado is causing Groat, inconvenience here. Unless it is settled in a fow days several industries will lwvo to be closed down. The strilco hots been of benefit to potato growers hnro, who had fairly larno supplies. They are now able to quit them at improve! pnecs, owing to tho non-arrival of southern tubers.