HIGH SHIPPING CHARGES

Hokitika Guardian, 16 March 1921, Page 3

HIGH SHIPPING CHARGES

t L'ItOI'OSKD DEDUCTION IN wages. i itY TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. ] AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. ■ Ucct-i'. ttd this tii.y iit 12.25 p.m) c

I-ONDON .March 19. Havelock Wilson, interviewed by tlie Australian Press Association, stated:— ‘lt wickedly premature. even to t'dk ot tlie possibility of a maritime strike merely because shipowners are asking us to meet them and discuss a proposal to reduce wages; and 1 can •state that the relations between British seamen and owners is now most pleasant and most amicable. We join the owners eti Thursday at a roundtable conference to consider a scheme, and in the most friendly manner to

listen to tlif owners’ Vaso regarding ■in agreement. As an outcome of the conference we will formulate a policy on which a members’ ballot will lie necessary. The owners must present the strongest cas,. before a reduction is acceptable, ft must be remembered that the agreement under which we are now working does not expii\. till j December and owing to its international basis, the owners are unable to plead i ns heretofore, their inability to meet j foreign competition Wo are uni!!;- !v*j to hceept less than ‘foreign seamen md will not listen to reductions merely nmed at enabling British owners to undlorciit foreigners in the freight markets. If owners plead their inabiity to profitably run their ships at •(■cent costs, we will suggest an ii'iterlational fixing of minimum profitable reights, instead of paying scame.i ess than living wages.”