SHIPPING TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1922, Page 4

SHIPPING TROUBLE.

POSITION UNCHANGED. j WELLINGTON, December 18. j In shipping circles the belief is ex- | taut that further negotiations between j the shipowners and the Federated Seamen’s Union are likely' to take place before the Christmas holidays, but | whether these will result in a settle--1 merit of the trouble in which the , unionists find themselves is regarded as ! soniewliat doubtful. On one hand members of the seamen’s organisation claim that tho shipping companies have been and are being put to much expense because of the employment of free labour, while on the contrary the shipowners express themselves as being wholly umilarnied as to fhe future. They point to the fact that between sixty and seventy vessels are in full commission and say they will bo quite satisfied while matters proceed as they are doing at present. Some members of the Seamen’s Union claim that their organisation is in a position to stand p siege for some months to come and that they are not worrying as to immediate possibilities Within the past few days the executive council of tho union, it is understood, taken certain steps Inwards conservation of funds, by cutting out the tobacco allowance which was being made to the men. This may indicate an intention to maintain the existing situation as long as possible. .Tost at the moment it is difficult to indicate what will happen, hut the feeling is that things will drift on until the whole trouble ultimately fizzles out. Tt is considered that the qualified men at present on the ships must in elude some who are members of the Seamen’s Union. As it seems unlikely that the assurances asked for by the shipowners will be given by the executive of the union it is believed tluit more men will go back to work, a situation which, if it does occur, will he full of interesting possibilities so far as the Federated Seamen’s Union is concerned. Tn some quarters there is a disposition to predict that the executive of the union is in sonic danger of being determined because of tlie chance of the formation of another union, or the refusal on the part of those who go back to the ships to countenance the old union any longer. There is no very definite sign of any such break at present, but whether the trouble is settled amicably or otherwise there docs not appear to be any risk of tho travelling public being put to any inconvenience during the holidays or any later time.