SHIPS SAIL

Taranaki Daily News, 16 November 1922, Page 5

SHIPS SAIL

BREAKING STRIKE. PLENTY OF MEN OFFER. AN UNCERTAIN OUTLOOK. ATTITUDE OF ALLIANCE. - ■ 1 ■ > (By Wire.—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. Events have made it clear that under present conditions the shipping companies can. break the seamen’s strike. Men are offering for work in Wellington and the other centres in numbers large enough to make possible the manning of additional ships each day. The uncertain factor in the situation is the attitude of the unions that are associated with the Seamen’s Federation in the Alliance of Labor. The executive of the alliance met here on Monday, and it is to meet again within a few days; but in the meantime its sittings stand adjourned, and apparently no decision affecting the seamen’s strike has been reached. The situation is complex. The president of the Alliance of Labor is Mr. Mack, who is also secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants.. This organisation has business of its own at present connected with the pay and conditions of railwaymen, and it is reported to be considering proposals of great importance. The waterside workers are also affiliated with the alliance, and they are waiting for the aiyard of the Arbitration Court in their case. The coal-miners also are affiliated with the Alliance of Labor, but moat of them are working short time now, and they are well aware that the Government is holding unprecedentedly large stocks of coal in all parts of New Zealand. The situation may not develop until the Arbitration Court has made its final pronouncement concerning the proposed 3s reduction in wages. The Court is to hear argument, in this matter to-morrow, and its decision may .be announced at the end of the week. If there is going to be a serious extension of the trouble, it is likely to come when the general reduction is confirmed.

PLENTY OF MEN. MORE THAN REQUIRED. GETTING SHIPS READY. UNION STILL SILENT. By Telegraph —Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Mr. T. 0. Bishop, secretary of the Shipowners’ Federation, said to-night that the shipping labor bureau in Cuba Street was working well. ‘Tresent indications,” be said, "are that we shall get more men than we need. We have had a surprisingly satisfactory response to the call for men. They are coming in faster than we can get the ships ready to take them.” Mr. W. T. Young, secretary to the Seamen’s Union, seen again in the evening, gave the stereotyped reply that he had nothing to be published. "Then you are no nearer to a settlement?” said the reporter. ‘‘Nothing to say,” replied Mr. Young. The Wainui is to sail to-morrow for Picton at two o’clock. She has had steam up for the last two days. The Mararoa is to continue her run on the ferry service. CLEARING LYTTELTON. MUCH BRIGHTER OUTLOOK. IDLE SHIPS MOVING. Christchurch, Last Night. With the ready response of free labor to the shipowners’ advertisement, the prospects of clearing Lyttelton of idle boats is now much brighter. Several of the Union Company’s laid-up steamers got up steam to-day in preparation for a move. The • Cygnet, Wakatu and Wanaka will commence loading to-morrow, and the Kato a, Wlngatui and Kamona are in the stream to-night ready for departure. THE MOSQUITO FLEET. SHOULD BE RUNNING SOON. NOT DIFFICULT TO MAN. Wellington, Last Night. The position of the mosquito fleet was referred to to-day by a local shipping man, who stated that, as far as he could see, there was no reason why the small fleet should not be back to its normal running within a short time. The position of the mosquito fleet was somewhat different from that of the larger regular coastal traders, as the number of seamen carried in the smaller ships was only one or two, whereas the crew of the larger type of coaster numbered a dozen or more. Under the fourth schedule of the Shipping and Seamen’s Act, 1908, it is laid down that steamers of 100 tons, 350horse power are required to carry only two firemen. Vessels between these limits of horse-power trading around Wellington include such steamers as the Wakatu, Kennedy, Kapuni, Wootton, Hawera, and Cygnet, and, should labor offer, he said it was quite reasonable to expect that vessels of that class would be* in commission again shortly. • , FOOD FOR WELLINGTON. SUGAR AND NELSON PRODUCE. Wellington,' Last Night. The Nikau arrived from Nelson to-day with nearly 30 tons of perishable goods, including 53 crates of strawberries, eggs, butter, malt, tomatoes, and green peas. H.M.S. Chatham reached Wellington from Lyttelton at 2 a m. to-day, having on board the Governor-General and Viscountess Jellicoe. She also carried mails. The Nikau, which left Wellington for Nelson to-night, took 46 passengers, the Marine Department granting a permit for the vaseei to carry 16 passengers in excess of her usual complement. Substantial quantities of sugar have arrived in Wellington by rail from Auckland, and no shortage is likely in this commodity. MAUNGANUI FOR ’FRISCO. Wellington, November 15. The Maunganui sailed at 10.40 to-day for San Francisco. There was a steady stream of applicants at the bureau fol enrolling free labour. Probably aoout 50 enrolled thia morning.