SHIPPING STRIKE.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1922, Page 4

SHIPPING STRIKE.

[BY TELEGRAPH —?Ell PRESS ASSOCIATION | ,

LATEST SYDNEY REPORT, ! SYDNEY, November 21. The Fiona arrived tc-day from NewZealand. j Some significance is attached to the i fact that the Kittawa’s crew is on j Australian articles. It is proposed to sign on the Ma-.j Kura’s crew to-morrow. Should, how-j ever, a crew not he obtainable, the

Makura will miss her trip, and be ren- , tiered idle for a couple of months. The Secretary of the Seamen’s Union states that to-day he received a j

cable from New Zealand .giving quite a ' different voision of how the strike is ( i .progressing as compared with cables appearing in the Sydney Press. MELBOURNE, November 21. j IPhe expectation that the Hauraki would got away to-day was not real- ( isecl. Her crew declined to sail, de- . manding payment at the old award rates till their articles expire in Decomber. I

i SYDNEY, November 21. j ! The 'Union Company's AVhangape. j which should have proceeded to New castle last night, is hung up, as two ' .mouthers of the crow absented them- , selves, and tlie remainder refused to take the vessel to sea shorthanded. ! The AVhangape has been taken into tlie stream to wait devclopmets. ! j The first hitch in the Union Com- ! i jinny's Tasmanian run occurred to-day when the crow of the Kittawa gave . notice, and sufficient men failed to ofi ter themselves when a new crew was ' called for.

It is understood the Kittawa will be laid uji at Newcastle. At Court twenty-two members of the crew of the Korcmlko were found guilty on a charge of disobedience of orders. They were sentenced to 28 days’ imprisonment. In view of those developments the strike outlook is regarded as less favourable.

AY ELLI NGTON POSITION. AVELLTNGTON, November 21. Tlie trouble with the seamen still remains in the same position as yesterday. Up to the time of writing, no intimation has been received by the shipowners that tlie Seamen’s Union will guarantee to observe the new award of the Arbitration Court during the remainder of its currency. Large liuinliers' of seamen have registered their names with the Superintendent of Marine, and have signified t'.ieir willingess to accept employment on the shi|is, hut. the owners remain Jinn on the point that before any .unionists are accepted, the Union must come forward with a .guamntee that there will lie no further attempt to I’old up vessels in ma'-iy ways. •Protests are being made to the Prime Minister by the. Cooks and Stewnids and Marino Engineers at the suspension of the Shipping Act.

In shipping circles it is anticipated that the trouble may last for at least another week, if not longer. It is believed that the Executive of the Seamen’s Union may he summoned to decide whether or not the guarantee asked for by the shipowners shall lie given. Until a guarantee is forthcoming the ships will continue to be manned by “free” labour. Two more coastal vessels, the Hawera and Ivnpuni, having completed their crews were able to sail for l’atea. It is hoped to lie able to dispatch the ■Ripple for Napier and Gisborne. The departure of these vessels manned by “free” labour is regarded as being highly satisfactory from the ship) owners’ point of view, as there was ground for thinking that the members of the •Seamen's Union were under the .impression that crews for these vessels would not he obtained.

It was reported from Christchurch that the AVnhiuc was to resume running in the AVellington-Lyttelton feriy service. This is incorrect. In the meantime the service will continue to he maintained by the Mararoa. There "ill be no passenger steamers sailing for Lyttelton to-night, hut mails will be carried by IT.M.S. Veronica.