SEAMEN OFFER TO RESUME.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2508, 21 November 1922, Page 3

SEAMEN OFFER TO RESUME.

GUARANTEE INSISTED UPON BY OWNERS. Wellngton, November 20. The trouble with the seamen throughout the Dominion underwent a new phase this morning, when seamen at Wellington and other ports offered themselves for engagement in large numbers, but their offers to resume Work were refused by the shipowners. Before the unionists will be permitted to man the ships again it will he necessary for the executive of the Federated Seamen’s Union to give some sort of guarantee that the award of the Arbitration Court will he accepted in its entirety and observed without any obstruction during the remainder of its currency. This new development was not altogether unexpected, especially as it was reported over a week ago that the seamen had embarked upon ail “irritation strike,” in that they were going to offer themselves for engagement to-day, work a week, and then cease work again. This morning a . meeting of rhe Shipowners’ Federation was held in Wellington and afterwards the seretary, Mr T. O. Bishop, issued the following statement: — “Before the shipping strike became general the executive of the Seamen’s Union had an interview with representatives of the shipowners, and suggested that the shipowners would agree, with the object of averting a general stoppage, to re-execute the 1920 agreement in lieu of the Arbitration Court’s award. “The suggestion was not accepted, and the union was informed that the award must be given effect to. “This meeting was held on Tuesday, the Till insi. and on Friday, the 10th. following a stop-work meeting of seamen, file crews of all vessels in Wellington gave notice, and similar action was taken at other ports. Since then no communication has liven received from the Seamen’s Union either by the Shipping Federation or by an individual shipping company. “Many union men have offered themselves for engagement this morning, both in Wellington and at oilier ports, hut the shipowners are not prepared to engage any union men until such time as the executive of the union approaches the owners and offers sonic satisfactory guar-

■mice that during the currency of ihe award there will he no further stoppage of work, and that ain dispute that may arise shall be dealt with in the manner provided for in the award.”