UNEMPLOYED SEAMEN

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1928, Page 1

UNEMPLOYED SEAMEN

’ MORE SHIPS LAID UP. By Telegraph—Press Assn., Copyright. WELLINGTON, Feb. 23. Negotiations are in progress with ] the object of opening up fresh avenues of trade for New Zealand ships, according to information the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) supplied to a deputation from the Seamen’s Union, the Cooks’ and Stewards’. Union, and the Merchant Service Guild which waited on him to-day in connection with unemployment. Brief details of the scheme were furnished the deputation in confidence. ’The deputation was introduced by Mr P. Fraser, M.P. The first speaker, the President of the Seamen’s Union (Mr F. B. Walsh) reminded the Prime Minister of his appeal to the farming community to employ labour, and hoped that similar treatment would he given the seamen, of whom about GOO were at present out of work in the Dominion. Eleven cargo and two passenger vessels were being laid up, and members of the union were in dire need. One suggestion to meet the present difficulty, lie contended, was the employment of New Zealand ships in the Nauru phosphate trade. At present the vessels engaged in that run included twenty-seven English ships, employing mainly Asiatic labour, one Irish ship, two belonging to Denmark and two to Norway. If New Zealand ships were engaged it would mean the employment of three vessels of the 5077 gross tonnage type, employing eaeli 48 men. Captain F. A. Maclndoc, of the Merchant Service Guild, said that in fits twelve years’ association with the Guild Tie had never seen seafaring men in such straightened circumstances as they were to-day. Air E. Kennedy said that a tally had revealed that 238 cooks and stewards were out of jobs. In reply, tho Prime Minister stated that New Zealand’s agreement provided for the acceptance of 16 per cent of Dio output from Nauru Island. The Dominion had no legislative authority over the Nauru Commission, hut some time ago the Commission was communicated with on the possibility of a difficulty occurring through trade depression in regard to the regu-, lar use of our ships, and it was asked, when adjusting contracts for the supply of phosphates, to endeavour to give New Zealand ships an opportunity of getting into the trade. It was understood that tho present contracts were due to expire in about six months time. The representation ol the deputation would he further considered, by the Government, and he hoped it would ho possible to open up new ; avenues of trade that would require further tonnage. Negotiations with , that end in view were at present in : train. | Air Coates emphasised that tho Goveminent was as much concerned with | the welfare ol the seamen of Ne\' Zealand as were the deputation.