SEAMEN'S STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3189, 13 September 1917, Page 4

SEAMEN'S STRIKE

SMALL BOAT CREWS PAID OFF. '£lib'shipping office was. crowded for the greater part of yesterday morning with tha seamen, stokers, etc., of the small coastal steamers trading out of Welliugtou, who' have refused duty allegedly owing to a.clause in .the agreement affecting, the watches which they agreed to as latt as June last. Since tlio first-of the steamers was forced to "tie up" on .Friday last, the inen have been retained on the ships' articles, with the result that between that day and yesterday morning they have been, ill receipt of woges, though they refused duty. Though the men refused to go to sea, they have not refused duty on the vessels at odd painting and soraping wort. In one instance the men who refused to»go< to sea in a vessel fully loaded were dismissed on the spot by the master, but in most of the instances the men I 'have been kept on the articles, paid, and fed. There are about eighteen steamers af present tied up to the wharves, and averaging tho'.number of men affected at eight per.boat, the numbor paid off yesterday wai! approximately 150. • Those consisted of tho seamen, stokers, and, in 6onie cases, the cooks and stewards. The articles of all .vessels have been kept open by the retention of the masters, mates, - and engineers. Representatives of the Federated Sea-men's-Union conferred with the Prime Minister (Right Hon.' W. F. Jlassey), • the Minister of Finance (Sir Joseph Ward), and the Minister of Internal Affairs (Eon. G-. W. Russell) last evening. Tho! proceedings were private.