SEAMEN AND FIREMEN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1917, 29 October 1906, Page 1

SEAME N AND FIREMEN.

THE UNION COML’ANV AND ITS

MEN

DISSATISFACTION OF THE SEA MEN AND FIREMEN.

{Special to Times..)

Wellington, Saturday.

Rumors of a strike on tlio part of seamen andtiromon on the Union Company stoamors, current a few days ago, liavo boon revived. It is now being generally stutod that the men intoud to leave ships during the onsuing weok. Tho secretaries of the various New Zealand branches of tho Seamen’s Unions have boon in Wellington for tho past few days, and that .fact has given somo color to the rumors. Private telegrams have boon received hero from other parts, enquiring if there is any truth in the rumors, I was able to obtain an interview with tho Minister for Marino on the subject. Mr Millar informed me that though he had heard talk of the men’s going out, he had no official knowledge of it yot— the officials of tho Unions had not mentioned the matter to him. He pointed out that there could not be a strike, hut said the men might go out, not in a body, but individually. The secretaries df jUnions could not act in such a case, as being members of Unions they would bo held responsible.

mr Millar expressed tho hope that no precipitate action would be taken, and gave me to understand that he was much averse to anything in the nature of a strike.

Prom other sources I learn that there is great discontent among seamen and firemen on the Union Co.’s vessels, especially since the owners “on tho other side” have granted their men 10s a month extra. The Australian seamen now get £7 per month, and the firemen £9 per month, so that they are back to the same rate of pay that they were receiving in 189 U. They also get the same rate of overtime as the New Zealand men. Tho New Zealand seamen and firemen wero very dissatisfied with the recent award of the Arbitration Court, and there has undoubtedly been talk of a strike. As Mr Millar points out, however, there can be no strike in the usual acceptation of the term. If the men wish to take action they will resign from their unions and go out individually.

The men state that the time io particularly opportune for enforcing their demands, seeing that during the next few months the coastal and oversea traffic in connection with tho exhibition and tho tourist season will be abnormal.

Mr Ivneon, secretary of tho Auckland union, and Mr Belcher, secretary of the Dunedin union, have returned to their respective homes.