LABOR IN BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1921, Page 8

LABOR IN BRITAIN.

WAGES OF SEAMEN. STATEMENT OF THE POSITION. By Telegraph.—'Press Assn.—Copyright. London, March 15. Mr. Havelock Wilson, interviewed by the Australian Press Association representative, states:— “It is wickedly premature even to talk of the possibility of a maritime strike, merely because the shipowners are asking us to meet and discuss a proposal to fl reduce/wages. I can state that relations between the British seamen and the ovfcierf are now most pleasant and mosv amicable. We join the owners on Thursday at a round table conference to consider the scheme in the most friendly manner and to listen to the owners’ case. “Failing an agreement as the outcome of the conference we will consult the members of the unions affected and finally, in the event of a deadlock, the executive will formulate a policy on which members will ballot. It is necessary that the owners must present the strongest case before a reduction will be acceptable. It must be remembered that the agreement under which we are now -working does not expire until December and, owing to its international basis, owners are unable to plead, as heretofore, inability to meet foreign competition. We are unlikely to accept less than foreign seamen and will not listen to reductions merely aimed at enabling British owners to undercut foreigners in the freight markets. If the owners plead inability profitably to run ships at the present costs we will suggest the international fixing of minimum profitable freights, instead of paying seamen less- than a living wage.” A Trade Union Congress official in*, forms the Australian Press representative that a special sub-committee is considering unemployment and wage reduction problems. He states that one of the most serious features is the attempts to abolish wage hoards, affecting three million workers- who are labor’s bottom dogs. A large body of workers recognise that the present rates, fixed in wartime, are artificial and not based on the ability of the industries to pay. He views gravely the recent closings of factories owing to international competition and exchange problems-. Nevertheless, there is strong opposition to reductions based on the recent decline in living costs which is regarded as ephemeral.