OFFER TO RETURN

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1922, Page 5

OFFER TO RETURN

SEAMEN'S DECISION. ACTION IN AUCKLAND. STIPULATIONS MADE, OWNERS CONSIDERING. ,1 By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. A meeting of seamen held to-day decided by an overwhelming majority to resume work. Subsequently they went in a body four hundred strong to the Government shipping office, and offered their services on vessels that did not have free labor. Another stipulation was that all seamensign- 1 ing on should produce bona-fide certificates and also union membership books fully paid up. The Marine Superintendent replied he would report to the Marine Department : and the local shipowners. The owners subsequently reported the position to the Shipowners’ Federation. Some seamen visited vessels and interviewed the captain or chief engineer, but were told that no orders had been received to take men back. In the meantime the shipowners are manning ships where possible with volunteer labor. WELLINGTON SEAMEN MEET. NO DECISION ANNOUNCED. Wellington, Last Night. Following the new development in the situation, there was a meeting of seamen in the Masonic Hall, but whether any decision was arrived at or not the secretary of the federation (Mr. W. T. Young) refused to disclose. When seen during the day, Mr. Young said he had nothing to say just then, and his reply to an invitation to discuss Mr. Bishop’s statement was: “There is nothing to say about it whatever.” The cooks and stewards held a meeting, but Mr. Kennedy (the secretary) preserved the same attitude of silence. NAPIER SEAMEN’S OFFER. RESUMPTION WITHOUT GUARANTEE. NOT ACCEPTED BY OWNERS. Napier, Last Night. A number of seamen who had left Richardson and Company’s vessels approaches the masters of the ships this morning and offered to resume, upon which they were referred to the managing director. In answer to him, the men stated they were not prepared to give a guarantee to work properly and observe the terms of the award. The seamen also stated the union could not give a guarantee, as it was not concerned, the men acting individually. The men were then informed that under the circumstances the offer to resume could not be entertained. The waterside™ continue the tactics adopted last week, and as a result the Durham took her frozen meat cargo in with :he aid of non-union labor. Several smaller »esseis were worked similarly. WELLINGTON—LYTTELTON. THE WAHINE TO RESUME. Christchurch, Last Night. It was announced late to-night that the Wahine will resume in the ferry service to-morrow, sailing from Lyttelton for Wellington to-morrow night, in place of the Mararoa. POSITION IN AUSTRALIA. PALOONA LEAVES MELBOURNE. By Telerrnnh.— Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Nov. 20, 9.45 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 20. The Union Company’s- steamer Kauri, after getting ready to sail, was held up at Newcastle owing to four firemen, deserting, two were arrested and sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment and ordered to be placed on board the steamer, on a charge of absenting themselves without leave. The other two are missing. The news that New Zealand seamen were returning tb work was not unexpected. Reports were current at the Trades Hall on Saturday that such a move was probable early this week. The unioh had declared its intention of restricting the trouble to a section of the Union Company’s vessels trading between Australia and New ZeaInad, and was prepared to man the company’s vessels to New Zealand if the imprisoned crews were released unconditionally. • Melbourne, Nov. 20. The Paloona sailed for New Zealand at noon. The Hauraki is expected to get away to-night or morrow, the most of the crew having agreed to rejoin the shin on the same terms as the Paloona’s men.

THE VANCOUVER SERVICE. MAKURA MAY BE HELD UP. I Received Nov. 21, 1.20 a.m. * ’ Sydney, Nov. 20. Unless the ’xisition changes in the meantime, it is doubtful if the Makura will get away on the scheduled date, Thursday. * It*is understood the crew have intimated that they will not sign on until the crews of the Moeraki and the Waikaws have been released. It is believed the mention is to maintain this position whether the strike collapses in New Zealand or not. When the Koromiko’s three arrested men mentioned yesterday were placed on board, they declined to work, and the remainder of the crew supported them, whereupon the whole crew was arrested on a charge of refusing duty. This, following the imprisonment of two of the Kauri’s crew, further aggravated the at Newcastle.