THE SPLIT AMONG SEAMEN.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1895, 1 November 1913, Page 6

THE SPLIT AMONG SEAMEN.

MR. YOUNO'B POSITION. ULTIMATUM SENT TO HIM. Discontent exists in the ranks of the Seamen's Union. It was oommon talk in the vioinity of the two union steamers which were in port yesterday that Mr..W. T. Young, local seoretary of the Seamen's Union, and president of the United Federation of Labour, had been asked to resign one or other position. One of the firemen on board the Warrimoo went so far as to state.- that a letter had been, receivod from an official of the Seamen's Union in Dunedin, notifying the men that if Mr. Young went on board the Warrimoo he was to be asked the,question: "What are you interested in most? The Seamen's Union or the Federation di Labour P If it is the former, then pay attention to the seamen's business, and leave the federation's business alone." A Press Association message from Dunedin: It is authoritatively stated that the Seamen's Union has issued an ultimatum to Mr. Young to resign oitber the Wellington secretaryship or tho presidency or-' the Federation' ; of Labour. It is stated that a similar communication haß gone to him from Auckland. At a meeting of the Seamen's Union last night sixty men were present 1 , but none were in favour of a strike. ■ ■ i Mr. Ycung'B Answer. On the above message being referred to Mr. Young by a reporter, he replied as follows:—"I may say that I take absolutely no notice whatever of it, for the reason that the officers of the Wellington branch are net at the dictation of a meeting of twelve or thirteen members that might assemble at Dunedin.. So far as Auckland is concerned, I know nothine about any attitude that they have taken up with regard to tho strike. A branch is at liberty, of course, to please itself in any action that it may take ; just tho same as this branch is. 1 will not personally tolerate any interference from Auckland or Dunedin, which two places have been dead-ends in the seamen's organisation for tho past eighteen months.- The only real bit of activity displayed on behalf of the seamen of this country can safely bo laid at the door of the Wellington branch. My position 'in tho Seamon's Union is one for the members of that body_ to determine. So far as the communication from Dunedin. is concerned, I shall certainly place it before a mass meeting of seamen for their consideration." It was understood that the Seamen's Union would call its members out yesterday afternoon. No information on the subject Was available yesterday.

MR. BELCHER & MR. YOU NO. Chrlstehuroh, October 81. . ThisVorning it was ascertained on good authority that efforts were made in Wellington, last night by officials of the Seamen's and Firemen's Unions to induce the firemen on the Maori to leave the vessel just prior to its departure for Lyttelton. The effort was not successful, and it is understood that the men resented arty action being taken in regard to any particular vessel. Shortly after mid-day it was ascertained from a reliable source that there is every possibility of the seamen and firemen coming out to-raorrow. The absence of a branch_ of the Seamen's and *Firemen's Union in Lyttelton prevents any confirmation of tho statement. Thero were rumours this afternoon that tho crew of tho Wahine had gone out at Wellington, and that the crow of tho Maori intended to follow suit. A member of the crew of the latter ship said that. Mr. Young, who is secretary of their union as well as president of tho Federation, had come on board at Wellington last night, and had instructed them to give 24 hours' notice on receipt of a telegram from Wellington. The men. had rcplie'd that they were not prepared to do this as tho.v did not seo why they should come mi when other ships were kept running. Many of them had been "standing by" waiting for the Maori at Dunedin for somo weeks and wanted to know who would keep them if they loft at Wellington? They also stated that as they had joined at Dunedin thoy regarded Mr. Belcher (the Dunedin secretary) as the roan whom they must look to. This morning ono of the Maori's seamen wired to Mr. Belcher for advice, and received tho following reply:— A large and representative meeting last night decided that nothing should be done in the way of calling out seamen. Wo at Dunedin have no knowledge of any movement in that direction, and advice from hero is to adhere to your employment until somo general action is decided upon. Who authorised the call ?—Belcher. Throughout the morning the ferry steamer Maori was bunkered by the permanent staff of tho Union Company. Stores were placed on both tho Maori and Ullmmou without any effort being