MANNING THE SHIPS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1925, Page 1

MANNING THE SHIPS

WHAT Wild, THE WATER STD Elis

WELLINGTON. Oct. (I. It i- reported that the seamen am representatives of shipping cotnpnnic: were as wide asunder as the poles it their views during the conference on der the chairmanship of the I’riim .Minister, and Unit Mr Coates's effort. 1 at mediation failed to make an impression. The seamen discussed not only wages hut the dietary scale and other working condition-, which the other parties to the conference could not consider. The whole dispute was recognised as being beyond the province of any organisation in the Dominion. but there was a hope that by friendly discussion with a genial and impartial chairman the seamen could have been induced to transfer their dispute io the sphere in which proper machinery exists for its determination. THE WHARF ATTITUDE.

The decision to man oversea.- steamers with free labour, if necessary, can apparently he easily carried out. as there is a long list of applicants for such los.itioii'. Onlv a few men were

required in any case to get one ovor-s-eas steamer away from Wellington. The next concern is what will happen on Xew Zealand wharves when free Inhour ships have to C- loaded. Opinion in Wellington is that the wharf workers. while strongly sympathising in a general way villi the seamen, do not consider the dispute one in which they are sufficiently concerned to take direct, action. It is believed that the wharves will li,- worked as usual, lint if this turns otii t" lie incorrect- the call for free labour will he extended and a bigger demand made on the lists of willing country worker- already ill tile possesion of the authorities. The (!.)- vernment altitude will he confined to keeping the peace, providing protection is needed for those who work the

As for the watersidoi's' attitude on the shipping dispute the I'Vderntion's official journal in its last issue shows that there is strong sympathy for the

seamen, hut in none of its references i- there any hint of a threat to stop work nu the wharves. Assistance, according to these references, is mi far Io lie confined to practical aid for the strikers in providing the necessities of life. “The dispute, of (oiir-e. affects all maritime industries in Xew Zealand." remarks the “Xew Zealand Transport Worker" in iis last issue.

“particularly (he watorsiders. who perform thi' worlc of leading and discharging overseas vessels, and consequently the earning capacity of those men has Keen greatly reduced. To the credit uf the waterside workers, however, let it he said that in <-very port ill New Zealand they have unanimously supported their overseas comrades, and although weekly wage's lor the past four

weeks have been very low they are still determined tu n.s tar n.s | nssible

supply the necossit ios <il Ii I e to i ’.<• i r fellow-worker- In.in < ■ I |>ri t:i i:!. A | >:i rt. altovrethor from the ; 11 -im|* i>r t - aril i|tii‘'tion lor tln' Ir.nlo union mmvuii'iit in N'mv Zealand jo consider is tile fact that these men are mcmlicrs of :i lahour orea n i-mt ion. 1 lu-v hare I a ken industrial action in this country and arc without the necessities ol life. '1 lie workers arc. therefore, in duty hound (o see to ii that these men will not waul for life's necessaries while they are amongst it.-. If we allow (he men to oo liiiiijty and allow ihe employers to starve them hack to work at re- , 1 11 . ed rates of pav the industrial movement of Xew Zealand would he ciiilty of d i-loyal i v to ihe ptim-iples tint only of the trade union movement, hut to die I a use of I.ahour as a whole."