DISGUSTED SEAMEN.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1918, 28 November 1913, Page 8

DISGUSTED SEAMEN.

BITTER COMPLAINTS 'AGAINST LOCAL UNION. Bitter complaint has been heard of Hie treatment alleged to have been accorded by the local Seamen's Union to the seamen of the liaunganui who left that vessel on Wednesday evening as the result of the decision of the firemen to "down tools," and tho replacement of tho latter by free labour for the stokehold. The seamen referred to are members of the Sydney Union, and take their instructions from that centre. Hut when the Maungamii's firemen left— and incidentally went hack rm a solemn understanding to work the stokehold on the ferry run so long as passengers and mails only were carried—and tho free labour en me on hoard, tho seamen, against their inclination, were compelled to leave also, being forbidden by the union rules to work a ship if stoked bv free labour. Since leaving the ship they have- had what they term a very rough time. To begin with, the.v bad a month's pav coming to them, which they forfeit by leaving the vessel. Having very little money they repaired to lire ollice of the union, and, it is stated, were disgusted out to them when the agitators were frying to get them to come ashore, the union officials were not prepared for them and could do practically, nothing for ilicni. The seamen, whose homes are on the other side, were practically stranded. The union officials, it Is slated, told Jheiii to go hack to the ship-—an obvious inipossibililv—and so they were practically stranded. They mauagud to laakc some sort of a shift

at luil several of them went without lui'iiktiiKt this morning. Bo fur us can he seen their -only hope is to lie arrested and sent'bade i:i the ship— an event which the insyority ul them wish may he realised.