IDLE SHIPS

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1922, Page 5

IDLE SHIPS

t QUIET AT ALL PORTS. FEW VESSELS RUNNING. I MEN'S OFFICIALS SILENT, SUPPLIES CUT OFF. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Nov. 11 The decision of the seamen to cease work as a .protest against the award of the Arbitration Court, which recently readjust wages came into operation here this morning, with the result that the position now is that the bulk of the coastal shipping is idle, including the Lyttelton ferry steamers, as neither the Maori nor the Wahine sail to-night. The only boat on which the ‘‘Blue Peter” is flying to-day is the Anchor Company’s Ngaio, which sails for Nelson to-night, and will be laid up there. Officials of the Federated Seamen’s •Union declared that they had no statement to make to-day. The opinion in ahippipg circles is that if anything in the nature of an “irritation strike” is attempted by the men working one week and striking the next, effectivemeans will be taken to bring it to an enl Up to the present the shipowners have not met to consider the latest developments, but a meeting of the Shipowners’ Federation will be held on Monday to decide what action should be taken.

So far there is no indication of the trouble spreading to other bodies, but the stopage of shipping must detrimentally affect other classes of labor. Shipping circles look to the Government to see that the award of the Court is vindicated. Arrangements have been made by the Postal Department to meet the mail difficulty created by the stoppage of the ferry service between the North and South Islands. All letters for the

South Island posted were sent forward via Picton, the passage across the Strait being made by the Ngaio. Present indications are that there will be no letters from the South on Monday morning, but the authorities have arranged for a general mail to 'be brought by H.M.S. Chatham on Tuesday. A proposal to use the Tutanekai between the North and South Islands during the trouble cannot be put into effect immediately as the veesel is at present making a trip around the lighthouses in the south. Beyond the fact that the waterfront is deserted nothing untoward indicates that there has been an almost com-

plete stoppage of shipping. It happens that not many boats are at present at Wellington and not a large number are due, so probably the untoward indications are not so marked as in other ports. Nevertheless, the effects on industrial and trade conditions will soon be made manifest. It is generally admitted that a development might bring about the most serious crisis the country has had. to face since the upheaval of 1913. The fact that the seamen have hinted that they are prepared to resume on the 20th, presumably to work the ships long enough to bring food supplies, has not had a reassuring effect, and the question is anxiously asked: Will the vessels 'be available for manning on the 20th? The heads of the leading companies decline to commit themselves individually, but they say this and other phases will be discussed at a meeting of the Federation of Shipowners to-morrow.

One of the Labor heads said that every vessel trading on the ‘New Zealand coast would be idle, any exception being vessels belonging to the smaller companies, which have conceded the demands of the men. The official declined to make any statement. Mr. Young declares there is nothing to say, nor was he prepared to reply to the statements of the employers’ case made by Mr. Bishop (secretary of the Employers’ Federation). He also declined to state •whether irritation strike methods would be adopted. POSITION AT AUCKLAND. ONLY THREE SHIPS WORKING. Auckland, Last Night. There are ample stocks of flour in Auckland and millers state that only usual orders will be filled. Regarding general supplies for the coastal districts, the scows are doing excellent work and .provided no grave situation develops no serious difficulty is anticipated. Local potatoes are coming in, obviating supplies from the south, while with an abundance of green feed the Jack of chaff will hardly be noticed. The most serious effect concerns the employment of watersiders, especially this week. Work will be provided only by three vessels in port, the Tainui discharging general cargo, the Fiona unloading sugar, and the Glaucus loading general cargo. The Kaituna, with coal from the West Coast, and the Waihemo, with general cargo from ’Friaco, are the only arrivals during the week. One large carrying firm has given notice to its carters as a precautionary measure. There is already in sight a shortage of steam coal, but the Gas Company has three months’ supply. The crews of two auxiliary vessels in the coastal trade have given notice and others are expected to follow. This will be serious for coastal dairy companies, as the output has been exceptionally large and their cool storage is limited. STATEMENT BY PREMIER. HOPES FOR SHORT STOPPAGE. . Wellington, Last Night. t “I can hardly express an opinion, having just got back to Wellington to-day,” stated the Prime Minister when approached regarding the shipping strike. “I can only hope that it will not last long. We haw! already made arrangements for the carriage of mails and will endeavor to avoid any inconvenience to the public as much as we can.’' “They are saying that the Government should own and control the Lyttelton ferry steamers,” said the pressman. “It is a far bigger thing than that,” replied the Premier. “It is a very difficult question, and it is no good discusaina it now.”