STOKEHOLD TACTICS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1313, 16 December 1911, Page 4

STOKEHOLD TACTICS.

. FOETST POUNDS FOR HOME TRIP. At noon on Thursday tho Xew Zealand Shipping Com jinny's steamer Rein uera was ready to proceed on lu'r voyago to London, but it was not until 21 hours later that she actually began tho journey. fiio tit-lay was caused 1/y firemen inserting. On Wednesday evening threo firemen uho had signed on "went ftsljoro, and failed to put in an appearance again. It is slated that this was a caso ill which a good deal oi occult work wo, 5 ) responsible for developments. When tho Itemueru's officers asked lor men to take the place of tho deserters the astounding wages of JMO for the run Homo were asked for. In some cases as much as JITO was asked. This is not an isolated instance of such demands for, at tho beginning of tho wool season last year, as much as .COO was. paid to a man for tho ran Home. As the Remuera's voyage occupies about 3!) days this was practically asking i:l per day of eight hours. Cases have been reported in which, it is understood, the men came to some agreement with each other in regard to dividing tho "spoil." For instance, some days before the vessel leaves port a few men got together and prevail upon some of tho firemen to desert their ship. Then the inciters apply for tho job and. if tho ship is in a hurry, ask a high figure. -If successful, as in many case.3 they are, they "cut up" some of their wages with their "mates."

At the present time work is fairly plentiful on tho. wharves and about" town, and men do not look forward to arriving Ilomo in tho middle of winter when things are slack. Hence their liking for j\ew Zealand and, taking advantage of this, those., who .apply, for tho vacant positions "put up tho priccs." In tho Remuera's caso thrco men wcro taken on and given ifO cach for the run Home, the vossel thus beius able to dear for London shortly after noon yesterday. Tho Remuera had her full legal complement, but it is usual for tlicso Homo boats k carry extra men on account of tho need- tor safeguarding tho valuable cargoes of frozen produco that aro usually on board.