REFUSAL OF CUT

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1931, Page 3

REFUSAL OF CUT

BY SEAFARERS. (By Telegraph — l'er Frets Associationj v WELLINGTON, June 15. There is no change regarding the Union Company steamers, Katoa and Waimarino. Work was resumed on the Port Fairy and Port Huon , two Homegoing liners. The former is expected to sail this evening. There are no other waterfront developments. A DELICATE SITUATION. WELLINGTON, June 15. There were no Fresh developments to-day concerning the position that has arisen on the waterfront in connection with the application of the ten per cent, reduction in. the wages of the seafarers and the waterside workers. In shipping circles, however, tlie situation is regarded as a delicate one, fraught with potential trouble. No attempt has been made by the Union Company to man either the Waimarino or the Katoa, which have been held up for some days, owing to the refusal of the cooks and stewards to sign new articles embodying a wage reduction.

Up to the present, no other steamers have been affected by this cause. The ferry steamers, Maori and Maheno, left Wellington and Lyttelton respectively to-night as usual, no hitch of any kind arising to prevent them sailing.

SHIPS’ OFFICERS. DISLIKE SALARY CUT. WELLINGTON, June 15. A joint imputation representing the Merchant Service Guild, -Masters ana Uituers , and the Marine Engineers’ Jiusutute, met tne Leneral Manager oi the union Company this afternoon, ana tnt> deputation fully set out the views of those bodies on the reduction of salary of which their members have been notified. The conference lasted for two hours and a-half.

A “Dominion” representative was informed that a certain proposal was put forward at the interview for the consideration of the company. The mutter was discussed at considerable length, but. no decision, was readied.

Tne Union Company's representation indicated that the proposal put forward would receive full consider ation, and that their decision would be communicated later to. the Guild and tne Institute.

The liner Pert Fairy, held up Saturday, sailed to-day for Napier, and the Port Huon continued her diseliarg.

MORE REFUSALS. ON UNION COY. STEAMERS. AUCKLAND, June 15. The application of the 10 per cent, cut in wages of the cooks and stewards on blew Zealand steamers is resented by some of the men. Difficulty arose on two teasels at Auckland to-day. Before the Union Company’s Island steamer “Tofua” sailed for Suva; the cooks and stewards .demurred when it was proposed that their wages should be reduced in accordance with the gey eral order of the Arbitration Court. In order that the vessel should not be delayed the matter was adjusted, and the “Tofua” sailed on schedule. The second dispute occurred on the Company’s steamer “Waimea,’ which is engaged in the Auckland E ust Com<t trade. The vessel arrived from Na’ icr on Stinday, and' to-day the c'ok am 1 the steward on board were Tintjfie ' that their wages would be reduced per cent. The men refused to wor 1 at the decreased rate. Thereupon thee were given 24 hours notice of dimissa.l. WATERSJDERS SEEK EXEMPTION CHRISTCHURCH, June 15. A special stop-work meeting of the Lyttelton watersiders was held this morning, to consider a resolution t,n aply to the Arbitration Court for exemption from the general wage reduction order. The resolution was carried unanimously. IMPLEMENT MANUFACTURERS’ DECISION. CHRISTCHURCH, June 15. It is authoritatively announced that' although the recent reduction in wages of ten per cent, represents only a. reduction of from three and a-lialf per cent, to four per cent, on their sales price, 'leading agricultural implement manufacturers of New Zealand have decided to reduce the list prices on most of their lines from five per cent, to ten per cent, in an endeavour to pass on the wages reduction on to the farmers.