RUMORS OF UNREST

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 58, 30 August 1911, Page 7

RUMORS OF UNREST

DISCOUNTED IN WELLINGTON. In reference to the Christchurch telegram predicting a seamen's strike in New Zealand, the Evening Post publishes the following result of reporter's enquiries in Wellington: Mr. W. A. Kennedy, Wellington manager of the Union ' Steam Ship Company, said he was much surprised on learning the contents of the despatch from Christchurch. It was all news to him. Presumably firemen were meant. He had heard rumors of possible trouble among firemen, but he gave them no credence. Mr. G. W. Jones, Wellington manager for Huddart, Parker, and Co., stated that as far as his company was concerned the men were paid on the Australasian scale, the ships being registered in the Commonwealth. Captain McArthur, of the Maoriland Shipping Company, and chairman of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Shipowners' Association, said he was astonished at the contents of the telegram. There were not the slightest grounds, as far as he knew, for expecting any.trouble with the men. The firemen,'he presumed, were referred to. The awjird of 1908 was still in existence. -The Shipowners' Federation had not been approached in the matter of increasing wages, and it represented the whole of the shipowners of New Zealand, with the exception of a few small local lines and the Union and HuddartParker lines. This was the first he had heard of any movement for an increase of wages. Firemen on the coast are paid £9 a month and seamen £7 a month. When two fivemen only are carried they are paid £lO a month. Mr. W. T. Young, Wellington secretary of the Australasian Federated Seamen's Union, said: "I regard these statements made' as being a. very astute and cunning move to obtain information as to the "business of the Seamen's Union. So; fac as the rumor,itself is concerned'there 'is not a tittle of fact to support,:it:'' The claims of the union have not"been considered, let alone formulated.

"The aeajjien'.Si award was made in 1308, and' its expired in April, 1910. Since there 'we have been working and carrying on -under the old award. Since April, 1910i"wc'ha-ve had the right to proceed for a new. award. We have not done so.' We have not in any measure attehipted 'to exercise that right. If we ' do proceed to exercise that right our first .fftrep' ,- would be'to formulate the union's demands, atld"then present these demands to Wv6stea r mship owners, with a request for a conference, so that tne demands may be discussed. If we fail to effect settlement with the owners, then our next step would be to filer'our claims in court, in order to, -bring :the owners before the Conciliation; Council, and, failing settlement there,, ,we. would have to go to the court.,, Jjp, jpu see, ,pw | ners would have ample nptiep.. |, ,W,ejwould be only following, tfhci e^d/nary-,procedure in these ' nmttcfp.,/.,,) 1 ,„,.',(,„ ... "Np„„ilj l regaj , 4ii" l .* se i statements in the light ,of> a r expedition, and the Seamen's Union is not biting." ! It should; be.rmentioped that no notice has baen.gjyen by, the union to cancel ,jt,s, registration.