ATTITUDE OF OFFICERS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1898, 5 November 1913, Page 7

ATTITUDE OF OFFICERS.

MEETING HERE;

OFFICERS .LOYAL TO OWNERS. . THAT ALARMIST MESSAGE. . A largely attended meeting of members of the Merchant Service Guild was held at tho Wellington rooms, yesterday, Captain Drowott presiding. The mooting was not open to the Press. Tho following resolution which was passed was given out afterwards: —' "That the members of the . Merchant Service Guild view with regret tlio statements in tho Press • with reference to their attitude in ■ refusing to work with free labour, and at a largely attended meeting to-day (Tuesday) decided to refute the statement most emphatically, and to state that we have not tho slightest intention of doing otherwise than remain loyal to our respective masters." Members of the Guild. seem to have been under somo misapprehension in regard.to a resolution which had been communicated to tho Press by Captain Watson, reading as follows: —-"That as certain shipowners have decided to pay off the masters and officers at tho present juncture, they cannot reasonably •expect the masters and officers to work their vessels with free labour, should it become available."

As a matter of fact the resolution only applied to two Wellington .firms whivhad signed off all their officers when the strike commenced. The'resolution, as worded, appeared to apply to all steamers whose officers wero members of the Guild.