CALL FOR LABOR

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1922, Page 5

CALL FOR LABOR

STEPS TO MAN SHIPS. GOOD RESPONSE EXPECTED. HOPES TO DISPATCH BOATS. OWNERS HANDS FREED. (By Wire—Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. The parties to the shipping trouble are not giving away much information concerning their plans. The seamen’s leaders have had very -little indeed to aay. To-day the shipowners have made it clear that they are accepting tne challenge thrown down to them, but they are not explaining their arrangements in any detail. The local newspapers contain prominently displayed advertisements calling for seamen, firemen and trimmers and the other ratings required for the manning of the ships. The advertisements state the award rate of wages will be paid, and add that previous experience as not absolutely necessary. The response to this call has been large enough to give the companies ground for hoping that they will be able to man quite a number of vessels during the next few days. Some of the men who are coming forward are experienced, and many of the others are capable of performing the required work under direction.

The suspension of the requirements of the Shipping and Seamen’s Act ha* given the companies a wide discretion. It has abolished temporarily the preference to unionists and the manning scales that have made it possible in the past for one or two men to hold up a ship, but the Marine Department is taking precautions to see that the safety of ships is not endangered. The duration of the struggle seems to depend entirely upon the attitude of tne Seamen's Federation, and possibly kindred organisations. There may be further developments within a day or two. RESPONSE AT LYTTELTON. PLAN TO WORK BOATS. SUCCESS ANTICIPATED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. The Shipowners’ Federation held a meeting at Christchurch this afternoon and decided to advertise for able seamen, firemen and trimmers to work under the new award rates and conditions. The idea is to dispatch the vessels in port to their destinations and continue to Work them as usual. It is expected all the vessels in Lyttelton will be dispatched within the next few days. A number of applications for work were received at the office of the Shipowners* Federation this afternoon, and it is anticipated there will be a big response to the advertisements inserted to-morrow morning. Many applicants are men who have been unemployed jprevious to the strike. The Wakatu arrived at Lyttelton from Wellington to-night. The crew will be paid off to-morrow, they having given notice at Wellington.

Following on the decision of the Shipowners’ Federation to engage volunteer crew«, the Union Company’s Wingatu!, which is loaded with produce for Auckland, was quietly prepared for sea today. She has gone into the stream, and it is expected the crew will be completed to-morrow, when the vessel will sail for Auckland direct. POWER TO WORK SHIPS. RIGHTS GIVEN TO OWNERS. Government remove restrictions. Wellington. Last Night. The most important development of the shipping strike to date is the suspension by the Government of certain restriction clauses in the Shipping and Seamen’s Act so as to relieve shipowners temporarily of their obligations under the preference and other clauses of the award, enabling them to engage non-union labor. The shipping companies are thereby legally able to man their vessels, despite the hold-up of the seamen and firemen. The suspension applies to any vessels the owners see fit to work, provided the Marine Department is satisfied the necessary precautions are taken for the safety of life and limb. NELSON TO WELLINGTON. SERVICE BY SMALL BOAT. RELIEF FOR FRUIT-GROWERS. Nekon, Last Night. The Anchor Gompany dispatched the Nikau for Wellington at 7 o’clock this evening with a full complement of passengers. The vessel left well to time, and there was no disturbance of any kind. There was a large crowd to see the vetsel off, members of the crews or other vessels being among the spectators. Thia service will help to relieve the plight of many small producers, to whom a cessation of shipping for any length of time means ruination. The Titoki joined the idle fleet today. The Waimea, due from the coast to-morrow, will also lay up. SERVICE TO THE CHATHAMS. MAILS AND FOOD SUPPLIES. Christchurch, Last Night. The Government steamer Tutanekai arrived at Lyttelton from Bluff to-night. She leave* for the Chathams on Thursday morning with urgently needed stores and mails. These were on board the Kamo, now held up at Oamaru. and are bring railed to Lyttelton, where they Will be shipped on the Tutanekai to-morrow afternoon. 3BDEN POWELL IDLE. Gisborne, November 14. Ths crew of the Baden-Powell, trading between Gisborne and Napier, gave notice at Napier yesterday. The ehip arrived thia morning and will be tied up. Thia will affect the execution by contract of reading and bridge-building, for which shingle was being brought from Kagte.