TRAWLERS STILL HELD UP

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 719, 19 July 1929, Page 1

TRAWLERS STILL HELD UP

Plenty of Free Labour Offering ATTEMPT AT SETTLEMENT AT tlie request of the Conciliation Commissioner, Mr. I’. Hally, no attempt was made this morning by Messrs. Sanford, Ltd., to man their trawlers with free labour. Instead the commissioner met the men this morning in an attempt to bring about a settlement. The company stated that plenty of free labour is offering and failing an acceptance of its offer the ships will be manned by free labour and sent to sea as originally decided.

Representatives of the employers and men met yesterday afternoon to discuss the situation, and the men agreed to meet the Conciliation Commissioner this morning, in an attempt to settle the dispute on the basis of the concession offered by the company.

The men, who at present have 24 hours shore leave a week with 36 hours every fourth week, desire this to he increased to 36 hours’ leave every week. To this demand the employers have replied with a concession of alternating periods of 24 and 36 hours. This offer was rejected by the men, although, it is stated, they were advised by officials of their union to accept it. A long conference between the men and Mr. Hally took place this morning when, it is understood, the company’s concession formed the basis of the discussion. The men were to give

their answer this afternoon, and pending its receipt no activity in regard to manning the vessels took place. This morning Mr. A. W. Brockie, general manager of Messrs. Sanford. Ltd., informed a Sun representative that plenty of free labour was offering, and that if the company’s concession was rejected the ships would be manned immediately and sent to sea. ‘‘The James Cosgrove could have been sent to sea last night,” said Mr. Brockie, ‘‘but we refrained from doing so in deference to the wishes of the Conciliation Commissioner. However, our action in doing so must not be construed as a sign of weakness. During the morning small groups of men, prospective applicants for work and strikers, gathered on the wharf alongside the deserted trawler and discussed the situation. Otherwise all was quiet on the Western Wharf.