SHIPPING STRIKE.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1922, Page 1

SHIPPING STRIKE.

(.BY TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION I

STRIKE AFFAIRS.

AUCKLAND, Nov. 16

There was a good response to the call for labour at the Shipowners Federation office this morning. The Northern Coy. obtained crews for most of their v auxiliary vessels trading to coastal The U'nign.Coy. hope to get a crew for the Navua to-day. and despatch,her to the islands .on. Saturday. There is..urgency about the despatch to get provisions to the islands, and bring back fruit. Two colliers will probably follow for Westport. The Arahura for Gisborne will be the next boat put into commission. This morning the Northern Company which keeps a permanent wharf staff, required forty additional waterside workers, owing to the resuming of auxiliary vessels. There was no response. The Secretary of the Watersiders explained that the Northern. Coy. had a permanent staff and watersiders did not desire to get mixed up in tlie trouble.

WATERSIDERS TAKE ACTION. AUCKLAND. Nov 16. There was a good response to-day to the call for manning vessels, consequently the Union Coy decided to send the Navua to tho AVestern Pacific with much-needed stores, and to pick up fruit. Iho watersiders hunkered her from ten o’clck until mid-day, hut did not turn to after lunch.

Til ere was no labour offering for eargo operations either for the Navua or for the Northern Company’s boats, the permanent staff of the iatter continuing loading. AVhen asked why there was no response to the call, the President of tho "Waterside- Workers’ Union stated the Company had a permanent .staff, and probably the members of the Union did not wish to get mixed in the trouble.

So far there had been no decision of of tho Union not to work these vessels. ■lt was intended to despatch the Xnyua on Saturday, but it is doubtful if this can lie done. _ . Aferchants have been warned not to send , cargo to her, g All vessels loading or discharging Homo cargo are being worked as is also the Glnucus, which is taking in cargo for Sydney.

SPECULATION IX WELLINGTON AVELLINGTON, Nov 16.

The intention of the firemen and seamen to try to hold up tlie shipping service of the country seems to be as determined as ever, but the only marked feature of the situation is that crews are being found for the various vessels, and the probabilities are that before very long, tlie sea transport service will lie in full swing again. No indication is. yet forthcoming as to tho attitude of the Seamen’s Union to the situation which is now developing, hut there appears to he some resentment at the action of the men who are volunteering for the positions on tlie ships.. Mr AA T . T. A’onffg, Secretary of the Union refuses to be drawn in any way, and still declines to make any public statement. There lias been a meeting of the seamen, and another meeting i s called for to-morrow. The policy of silence which the Seamen’s Union officials are adopting could scarcely be better preserved, hut there seems to he a feeling that the Union is Alieawher-like, waiting for something to turn up. The impression appears to lie that if there is any great change in the general industrial situation, it cannot he much longer delayed. Aluch may depend upon any support which the seamen receive from the watersiders.

At Napier the watersiders have refused to handle cargo for the boats manned ,by “free” labour, but no trouble has been experienced in this direction in AVel ling ton. No official advice lias been received by the headquarters of the AA'aterside AYorkcrs’ Federation regarding the position at Napier. It would appear that the Napier men have acted pure]v on their own account.

UNEMPLOYED KUSH. CHKTSTCHURCFI, Nov 15. An opinion is prevalent that the hack of the shipping strike has practically been broken. There is some talk, especially among the “I'rce’

hands who have joined up, of forming a new union.

Large numbers of North Island visitors who were not anxious to return for a day or so, are now inquiring at the Union Company’s office for berths. Each trip the Mararoa is making at present to AVellington she takes a full berthing list of 400. At the present time there is a big waiting list for Saturday. Several hundred men have answered the call for “free” labour to man the ships. A majority of the applicants are capable, and many are experienced. AM tho applicants, according to a shipping company are keen to getpermanent work as soon as possible. The Wiugatui, the Katoa and the Knmona are now fully manned. Tho AAbmaka is loading her cargo, and a crew is practically assured for her to sail on Saturday.

The Knkapo and Karori are partly manned, hut the local shipping company is waiting for further advice from the heading office about definite movement sbeforo these two ships are fully manned.

There is, to all appearances, not the slightest unpleasantness on the water f ront.

Aluch of this tranquility is due, probably, to the fact that a large number of the men have gone to their homes on the AA r est- Const and elsewhere. • AT AA r ELLINGTON, AVELLINGTON, Nov 16. The AVainui sailed at 2.15 p.m. for Picton. Free labour to man the ships is now abundant. The following vessels are announced to leave AVellington to-mor-row. The Kapuni and Hawera for Patea; the Kapiti and Invercargill for AA 7 anganui; the AA’airau for Blenheim; the Rama for Dunedin; the Ngahere for Greymouth; the Xikau for Nelson ; the Ripple for Napier, and Gisborne. -.The sailings on Saturday will bo the AA'aiinui for Picton, the Alexander foi Nelson, the Echo for Blenheim; and tlie Opua for Greymouth. The Harbour Board are isolating the Queen’s AVharf with temporary barriers, to prevent any interference with tho working of shipping in case any trouble arises. The presnt indications, are that the seamen are indisposed in interfere in tiny’ way. The men are keeping away from the waterfront, though they intend picketing tho labour enrolling office.

SUGAR RATIONED. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov 16. One result of the strike has been the rationing of sugar by the Christchurch grocers.' This morning most of the eit v grocers were allowing customers only two pounds ot sugar to each 10s worth of goods. . - Rationing will be continued until fresh supplies of sugar arrive. We do not expect it will he. long before fresh supplies of sugar are received, stated one retailer to-dav AAhen the shipping trouble developed, we were caught napping, and we have had to he careful to avoid running out ot sucar altogether. Rationing is purely nn emergency measure in the meantime.” NELSON POSITION. NELSON, Nov 16. The position at Nelson as to the shipping strike is improving. I hree Anchor boats are announced as sadn g. The Nikau sails for Wellington this evening, and the Alexander to-mor-row. The Koi resumes tlie AlotueUa trade.