LABOUR PROTEST

Hokitika Guardian, 12 August 1931, Page 3

LABOUR PROTEST

AGAINST' tLSv-A; SHIPS. ENTERING N.Z TRADE. THE MATSON LINE. . ’ (By Telegraph —Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 11. Exception to the .entry of the Matson (U.S.A.) Shipping Line, and other “highly-subsidfised cheap-labour • lines” into the island and tli.e inter-colonial trade, was taken., by a deputatjqn from the Federated Seamen!s Union of New Zealand, which waited upon the Prime Minister this eyening. .. The deputation stated that, at the present time, jn New Zealand waters there was no less than 70,000 tons of idle shipping, which, in commission,, would give employment to over 1000 seafarers, and the entry of the Matson Line would intensify the position so far as they were concerned. The Prime Minister stated that the matter was under consideration by the Government.

The deputation was introduced .by Mr Peter Fraser, M.P., Messrs C. H. Chapman, M.P., and W. E. Parry, M.P., being also present,. The General President of the Union, Mr F. P. Walsh, said that the deputation had been directed by stop-work meetings, of the members held in Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton and Dunedin to .approach the Government in order to. state their objection to the Matson and other lines entering into! : the island ;a,)ul inter-colonial trade. Enactments for the protection of the American maritime industry, were quoted by Mr- Walsh. The M,at.sqn- ships,, he said, were already enjoying a huge subsidy for their present service between San Francisco, and Sydney, and .they would get still more when calling at Auckland. In addition the Matson -Company was building three 20,900 ton vessels for trans-Paeific trade, on wbicji tse United States Government was lending it. £2,280.000 for twenty years on an interest .rate, of only three and a-hal.f per cent, for the building of the first two of the vessels. The subsidy and interest would aggregate £328,000 annually. Taking into consideration the wages and working conditions of the seamen, the American standard was 40 per cent, lower than that ruling in. New Zealand.

Mr Walsh quoted resolutions passed by .the farmers and' ■ the Chambers of Commerce' opposing, the entry of the. Matson Line into the Pacific and the-■inter-colonial trade. Tit reply, the Prime Minister stated

that there had'- been other representations in respect te Urn running;of the Matson Line, and that the- matter was now , under consideration He could not say anything _fuvtbfir. at the present juncture buti.no doubt, later on, he,would, be‘able- to reply to the representation that- the deputation had niadcrtochim. St id ,«ui j