PAUSE OF THE SEAMEN.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1936, 19 December 1913, Page 8

PAUSE OF THE SEAMEN.

OUTVOTED BY LUMPER MEN.

MEET AGAIN TO-DAY. ' DUNEDIN & AUCKLAND READY. Despite the fact -that the Seamen's Union delegates and the shipowners unanimously agreed upon a basis of settlement on Wednesday, tho Wellington branch of tho union, at a meeting held vesterdav afternoon, decided not to go back to work until they bad held a further meeting to-day. This was apparently against tlio wish of tho seamen themselves, but, as will be seen, they were outvoted by a section of their union not- actively engaged at sea. Mr. T. Donovan, of tho Wellington branch of tho Seamen's Union, occupied tlio chair. Mr. Young Favours Turning To. Mr. W. T. Young, secretary, in addressing tho men, told them that they had obtained a capital agreement, and ho stronglv advised them to return to work. Ho stated that if the men did not go back very soon he was of the opinion that another Arbitration TJnion would be formed, and then some of them would be unable to obtain employment. A motion to the effect that tlio men should return to their ships was, then submitted to tho meeting. A show of hands was demanded on tho question. This did not prove satisfactory, and it was subsequently dccidcd that those for or against the proposal should go to the right ancl left respectively. This also did not prove satisfactory. A suggestion was eventually made that tho meeting should adjourn till ~ p.m. to-day, and this was embodied in the form of ;> motion and carried. Seamen Disgustod. When some of tho seamen who attended the meeting were seen later in the day they expressed disgust at the attitude adopted by a certain section, who apparently held the upper hand at tho meeting. As indicated -above, there aro a number' of waterside workers who are members of the Seamen's Union, and these were present in force. It .is understood that this section .was mainly responsible for tlio decision arrived at. It was also stated that the position of the minors now on strike, was considered, and although the seamen aro not connected with tho Federation of Labour, that organisation brought influence to bear to induce the men to remain, out. It is understood that a certain section of tho seamen wero led to understand that bv declining to return to work immediately there "would ho a possibility of an early settlement of the miners' strike. lhis impression is said on good authority to bo erroneous, ■ bccauso as soon as tlio seamen return to' work more attention will be paid to settling tho difficulty which has arisen with tho miners. Ihe longer tho seamen hold'out, hoiycvci, the longer the miners' dispute will remain as it- is. . It 'was quite evident yesterday that a considerable number of the seamen had boon under the impression that they would be able to go on board thou ships that day and turn to. With that object in view' six ot tho o/'S 1 "® 1 c'-ew of the Maori arrived from Lyt-tct-ton by the Patoena yesterday morning, their intention being to sign on Jast evening. ' ~.. , ■ Many ■of ■ tho seamen were mtteuy disappointed at t)io turn that events, took, and expressed themselves strongly. From what could ho gathered, it seems -are determined,,that,i if tlio -union'- does not aUpw-tnem to' rcsuruo this afternoon, they will break awav and form a union of their own. It is reported on good authority that tho unions in Auckland and Dunedin are decidcdly in favour of\ restart-nig under the new agreement, arid, accorilin"' to private advices received in Wellington last evening by ■ some of the sea°nen, tho Dunedin men will join their respective vessels to-day. Ihcy aro tired-of waiting for tho Wellington Union to act. . Regarding the Napier seamen, our local correspondent states that, at a meeting last evening, it was decided to remain on striko, pending msti notions from Wellington. So' far, only 13 of the men who struck on local ves'sels havo returned to work.