REPLY TO MINISTER.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1922, Page 4

REPLY TO MINISTER.

BY SEA AI EN ’ S SECRET Alt V. CY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT WELLINGTON, Dec. 28. Air W. T. Young, secretary of the Seamen’s Federation, replying to tlm Hon. 0. J. Anderson’s comment on the " Warnings to Travellers” pamphlet, in the course of a long statement say ■ that the Alinistcr failed to explain the sections of the Act actually suspended by bill! because “ intended deception compelled him to refrain from straightforwardly informing the. public ’ that his act in suspending Sections 51, 02, 53 and 54'was for the express purpose of permitting ships to put to sea with unqualified and distinctly incompetent crews. Referring to the manning of l.hc Alararoa on November 1-itli .lie declares that she was manned with 95 per cent of unqualified and incompetents, who were mostly inexperienced voutlis recruited by force from flic works of the Union Company at Evans. Buy and elsewhere, and some from the Wellington office, the only eompetents being two or three wharf foremen of the company. With this crew she was permit led to carry 700 passengers without additional lifeboats, although her passenger license only permits ,150. Air Young states that the .Minister’s statement leaves the public with tho impression that the free labour now employed is qualified and competent. “ 1 have to give the inferred pronouncement of the Minister .a very emphatic contradiction, end declare in tiie interests of those using the ships for transit purposes that 80 per cent, of the free labour is unqualified, incompetent and incapable of launching or handling a boat or raft in time of disaster or at any other time.” He also states Hint it has come to his knowledge that persons undergoing imprisonment far offences and undesirable immigrants have been purposely released from gaols to fill jobs on hoard slops. In conclusion, lie says: “Hie Seamen’s Federation takes full responsibility for the printing and distribution of li:e leaflet the Minister takes exception to, and all I have to do in the name of honest men is to tell the public that its contents are gospel fact and at the same time challenge the Minister to prove the contrary.