STEWARDS’ STRIKE

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1920, Page 2

STEWARDS’ STRIKE

f AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATI IN THE STRIDE PROSPECTS. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, Dec 21. There is now a possiblity of the strike extending during the next few days,, to all inter-state vessels. The stewards state they are able to carry on the strike for a long period, the Union being financially strong, as months ago a' ten shillings levy was struck in anticipation of a strike. Forty or fifty exservice immigrants with wives and females en route to New Zealand stranded as a result of the strike,* have been granted an allowance by the New. Zealand Government office to enable them to live until they can continue their voyage. There are comparatively few visiting New Zealanders and few eases of financial difficulty have yet been reported. The Union Company announce thp Manuka is sailing for Wellington on Thursday.

NO XMAS SETTLEMENT. SYDNEY, Dec. 22.

Advices from shipping circles state there arc no prospects of a settlement before Christmas. It is estimated 20,000 are idle as a result of the strike*. The dispute between the Federation of Seamens Union,and Tasmanian shipowners is not settled, the latter deciding the arbitration hoard shall determine the issue.

Sydney seamen threaten to complicate matters further if the Union dispute is not settled. As a result of the shipping dislocation interstate traffic is diverted overland, compelling railway authorities to provide extra trains. INTERRUPTION OF N.Z. SERVICES o ' UNLIKELY. ’ WELLINGTON, Dee 20. It fs now stated that there is not likely to bo any interruption of the local steamer service, in consequence of action by the cooks and stewards, during the holidays. The men themselvqs arc very half-hearted about a strike, and some say openly that they are r.ot going to pull tho chestnuts out of the fire for others. Moreover, they recogniso that the Christmas and New Year holidays induce so many people to travel that it is a profitable time for tips; indoeif, for tho stewards it is *the best time of the year.

Generally speaking, however, there is still a good deal of unrest and uncertainty in connection with New Zealand labour.

THE FERRY SERVICE. WELLINGTON, December 21. • In connection with the cooks and stewards dispute it appears that the Christchurch message which stated that a conference was to be held in Wellington on Monday was incorrect as Mr W. A. Kennedy (Manager for the Union Steam Ship Coy.) to-day informed a reporter that no conference had been held or was to have been held. • The Maori got away for Lyttelton as usual this evening and up. to the present nothing has occurred in Wellington to indicate the possibility of an'extension of the trouble to this port. The Arbitration Court has not. yet delivered its decision on the union’s application.