ARBITRATION COURT TO DECIDE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 7, 3 October 1917, Page 6

ARBITRATION COURT TO DECIDE

PRIME MINISTER TAKES ACTION The following letter was forwarded yesterday by the Prime Minister (Right Hon. W.' F. Massey) to the secretary of the Federated Seamen's Union of New Zealand:— "Dear Sir,—With reference to your letter of 27th ultimo respecting tho present seamen's dispute as to the number of men to be employed on watch on smalUsteamors, you arc no doubt aware that, on account of the holding up of the vessels, a serious position has arisen, causing a shortage of food and other essential goods in Kaikoura and elsewhere in New Zealand. It is inecessary, therefore, that further steps be taken without delay to settle the dispute. You are no doubt also aware that, by ceasing employment while bound by an industrial agreement voluntarily entered into by the union so recently as March 9 last, "the union and each of the members concerned have committed a breach, of the

strike provisions of the Industrial Conciliation aud Arbitration Act. "I desire to point out that so far your union has not taken advantage of any of the facilities that have been provided for a complete"arid impartial investigation of the dispute. The Act makes full provision by which, when any question arises as to the interpretation of any industrial agreement, that question may bo settled by the parties by application to the- Arbitration Court for interpretation, but your union has refused to join the employers concerned in such application. If, on the other hand, the matter is one that is not covered by the agreement, it may bo dealt with by tho filing of an additional or supplementary dispute, to be settled, either by a conference and agreement of the parties (to be filed as a supplementary industrial agreement), or by referring the dispute to the Conciliation .'Commissioner for hearing by a Conciliation Council in tho usual way. "You have alao been invited by myself to agree to the setting up of an independent board consisting of two repre : sentatives, one on each'side, together with a chairman, but you have declined to accept the invitation, imposing as a condition that the proceedings instituted uudor tho War .Regulations against certain members of your executive be withdrawn or determined. "It will thus bo seen that your union has been given every reasonable opportunity for an impartial inquiry into the matter in dispute, and I have now to Ftate that the matter will be forthwith referred to the Arbitration Court by the Inspector of Awards, pursuant to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and the rules of the Court thereunder. . - "As it is imperative that the trade of steamers concerned should be at once resumed, the Government calls upon Che seamen that are now disengaged to immediately return to their employment under the agreement now existing until the decision of tho Arbitration Court has been given. . , "I trust that you will at once inform the seamen affected of the contents of this letter, and arrange with them to resume their work."

THE HIMITANGI SAILS. The Himitangi, after having been clolayed since September 8 by the seamen refusing to go to sea with one man on a watch, sailed at 2.30 p.m. yesterday for the Chatham Islands.' There were six able seamen on board, which will allow for two men on n. watch. It is the Dractice of the owners in October to employ an extra seaman for six months, as during the summer time the work on the shin when she is at the Islands, is heavy, and the extra man is necessa.y to facilitate loading operations. It ;s eii weeks since the vessel last returned from the Islands. Tho Waterside Workers Union yesterday informed a "porter 'that they had not considered the status of the overseas vessel which tho waterside workers will not, unload, nor had they considered the trouble that has arisen, lhe call for labour yesterday wos not responded to.