THE ENGINEERS' SPLIT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 266, 8 April 1914, Page 2

THE ENGINEERS' SPLIT.

THE BLACKBALLING PROPOSAL DEFEATED. By Telegraph—Press Association. V/ellington, April 7. The secretary of tne New Zealand branch of the Australian Institute of Marine Engineers has received a cable- ! gram from the head office of the Ini 1 stitute at Melbourne, giving the offii cial result -of the ballot mentioned in this morning's messages. The figures are: —For severance 742, against severance 1163—majority against 421. The result of the ballot in New Zealand on severance was:—Against 406, for Bi—majority against 3s)B. The above is the result of a ballot taken, on March 31 by all members who were financial on that date. Membors of tho Sydney branch alleged that some mombcrs of the New Zealand branch broke the following rule during the rocent strike:—"ln labor disturbances, except where the safety of the ship is endangered, members, unless < otherwise instructed by the institute, must remain strictly neutral, that is to say, must not handle cargo manually, •assist in keeping up steam, work the winches, or in any way take the place of unskilled labor.' Accordingly a ballot was taken- of all the members of the Institute, including New Zealand, on 1 the question whether Australia should sever connection with the New Zealand branch, and ithe result Jias been to negative tile proposed severance. During and after the strike the charge was made agaiirat the New Zealand members i that they liatt acted as iiremen. Tins was denied, the contention being that, although extra engineers were carried, they were simply there for the purpose ' of instructing the temporary firemen.