FIREMEN GET THEIR WAY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1873, 6 October 1913, Page 7

FIREMEN GET THEIR WAY.

J&FFAIR ON S.S. KITTAWA. 'A mild disturbance took place in the stokehold of the Kittawa on Saturday, and at one time during the day it seemed as if tho vossel would not get away for Greymouth. Stokehold men ivero tho cause of tho trouble, and as has been often the case for some time past thoy gained their point—an extra man be-, low —and tho Kittawa ,'at 6.30 p.m. Briefly told, tho Story is as follows :—When the steamer came across from Australia to, trado on the New Zealand coast some, years ago she carried three firemen, two greasers, and three trimmers. After she been running for some time tho indicated horse power of her engines naturally deoifcnsed. Under tho New Zealand Shipping and Seamen's Act tho Kittawa at this time was allowed to carry three firemen. Tho Union Company appointed two extra men, however, and this allowed the men to do eis-hour watches, i.e., 6ix hours on duty and six off. Tho Kittawa has been ordered to proceed to Australia from- Greymouth, and as it is a five or six days' journey for this class of steamer the men refused to sign on unless they wore allowed to work four-hour watches—four hours on duty and eight off." Mr. W. Young, secretary of the Seamen's Union, advised the men to sign on and take the Kittawa as far as Greymouth, and a promise was made that the trouble would bo settled before the vessel left Now Zealand finally for Australia This they refused to do. Mr. W. A. Kennedy, local manager of the Union Company, wa3 appealed to, and ho consented to the extra man being engaged, thus making six men. in tho stokehold. Tho Kittawa has been undergoing overhaul and survey' here,, and the men have had a couple of weeks in which to 'bring forward their grievances, but apparently (for reasons of their own) preferred to «;ait till tho last moment. Mr.- Kennedy had to act on his own inulative, as ho could not oommunicato with headquarters "to advantage on tho Saturday' half-holiday.