TROUBLE IN THE MOSQUITO FLEET

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3185, 8 September 1917, Page 7

TROUBLE IN THE MOSQUITO FLEET

4 SEVERAL. STEAMERS HELD UP. During '. the present week conferences have been held between the owners of the smaller steamers mid the respresentatives of the Seamen's Union on the interpretation of the eight-hours' clause in the Jiow working agreement. Onjfhursday the conference dissolved without' coming to an agreement, but tho employers announced their intention of looking to the Arbitration Court for si ruling on the clause in dispute. This evidently did not suit the men concerned, for yesterday morning they gave notice to the masters that they would not sail unless' tivo men. wero employed in a watch. The following eight vessels did not sail Inst night:—Defender, Pictnn, for Grey mouth and Hokitilca; "Waverley find Hawera, for Patea; Queen of tho South, for' Foxton ; Blenheim and Kiiin, for Wangamii; Opawa, for Blenheim; and tho ICaitoa for Nelson. Coajtal vessels arriving in port to-day mid to-mor-row will probably be involved also unless a settlement is reached. The chairman of the Shipowners' Committee (Mr. Deck) slated that the nnmb-rj of men to be employed j.n a watch Imd not previously been the subject of any demand by the men, nor had it even been mentioned at the recent conferences. It had been the custom to have only cue inan beside the officer on watch on the smaller vessels, and no fiuestion of safety was involved. Tho. men hud not previously advanced any such plea. Nr/ninally, prior to tho coming into operation of the now agreement,' there were two men on duty, but one only was on deck at the wheel witli Ihe captain, w.lio was nn tho look-out. The other man was in bed.' When Die new agreement cumo into force imposing more rigid conditions as to iliours, the shipowners distinued the practice of paying a man for time spent in his bunk. The statement for the men is that they, took action because they considered the present practice dangerous to seafarers and travellers using the steainor.J. Formerly it \ias regarded as necessary to have a man at the look-out as well as at the wheel, but lately the shipowners had done away with the look-out. The man at the wheel, with his eyes on the comprise, was blinded, w to .speak, and could not keep a proper look-out. The facts havo been placed before the Minister of Marine (Hon. G. \V. Russell) bv the Shipowners'. Association, and tho Minister is now considering the matter. In the meantime, it would appear that the coastal service is likely to be interrupted. The Kailoa was to have sailed for Nelson at 5 p.m. with a full complement of passengers, and the sailing time was jiostponed until 7 p.m. in the hope that n settlement would take place, but at • o'clock the crew refused duty, and 'he passengers had no alternative but to diacnibark. The mails for Nelson wero ri>. turned to the Post Office, and those for the West Coast were forwarded by the Maori to Lyltelton for transit overland. Tf a settlement is made to-day, both the Kaitoa nnd the Nikau will leave this afternoon. -■-""' = • I