SEAMEN'S STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3190, 14 September 1917, Page 5

SEAMEN'S STRIKE

ONE COMPANY GIVES WAY ASTEAMER LEAVES PORT - Following upon tho conference between the Prime Minister, . tho Minister of Finance and the Minister of Marine, .with tho representatives of the Seamon's Union, on Wednesday evening, another meeting of tho Ministers and Bnipownors , representatives took pluce yesterday morning. Following that conferenoo separate meetings of the union ' and shipowners were held during the day and last evening the shipowners' rcpu'eeenta.tires again met the Ministers privately. [.There is to be another conference of both parties and the Ministers this 'morning. ' . : A development took place last flight ■when it was arranged that the ttuia and the Baden Powell should sail with the, extra men for the watches. The' former vessel was to proceed to Wango-nui and Now Plymouth, and the latter to Lyttelton. Two incidents, howover, prevented the Huia leaving at the.time intended upon. The extra seaman engaged for tho watch had been told to report himself at tho vessel at an iarly hour in tlio evening, but he did not appear. As the hour for sailing was drawing Bear a message was sent to him, and it. was learned that whe-n ho was on his way to the ship he was approached, by two men who told him that he was not wanted at the ship. The man to his home, and refused to join the vessel. After a little delay another *ea-, man was found to take his place, but when, tho ship's a.rticlo3 were wanted for tho purpose of signing thoy could not be found, and it soon became apparent that they bad been etolen. ! ■ Captain Broadhurst, Government Shipping Master, was communicated with, but he would not give the necessary permission to sail without the articles. Consequently tho vessel will be unable to leave until a new sot of articles have been taken out. It -was explained that the articles were left by the captain on the table in the mate's room. Tho articles have no monetary value, but their importance to the ship is incalculable. A seaman who has been in allpM'ts'oftho world stated that this is tho first tinio that he has heard of the theft of a ship's articles. : The Baden Powell experienced' no trouble and sailed at 11.10 p.m. for liyttelton.- ■ - • When, seen by a Dominion repre-' eettutive, Mr. W. H.. Brewer, manager of the Wellington Steamship Company (ownere of the steamers mentioned), 6lated that his company was hardly strong enough to hold out an jr. longer, but he expressed the , hope that as the result of the decision ho had come to 'to run ,hia bouts with the extra man for each watch)' some settlement Would be arrived at that would bb mutuidly satisfactory to both parties, y '■■<■ On inquiries bein» made among' others concerned, a* to how tho geneml position would be affected hy the defection of the one company which bad nocwled to the demands,of the Seamon's Union, it was stnted tl>nt the action of one-•.•omnaiiy was not likely to bave.anr iwieral effect.