POSITION AT SYDNEY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 27 November 1913, Page 5

POSITION AT SYDNEY.

ATTITUDE OF SHIPPING CLERKS IMMIGRANTS STRANDED. (Received Last Night, 8.15 o'clock.) SYDNEY, November 26. A delegate from the New Zealand Seamen's Union arrived "to-day. He conferred with the general secretary of the Federated Seamen'*, Union of, Australia and tHe assistant-secretary of the Victorian Seamen's Union. The business done has not been divulged. A special meeting of the iship'ping clerks is being held* Eo-night to consider the position of clerks who are engaged in discharging cargo on the Union Company's steamers. The president of Clerks' Union states that some members are very sore at being asked to handle cargo. Some refused fo do so,, but he instructed them to pending the union's decision "as to a line of action. V It is reported that a number of the Orainajp passengers, en,, route to' New Zeallfid, are stranded, owing to the dislocation of the steamer service; Though a number have money in New Zealand Banks they were provided with only sufficient ready cash, without reckoning on striko delays, to land them inTNew Zealand. Others are still in worse plight,, all their available, funds being exhausted in paying their board.

MINISTERS INTERVENE. t UNSUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE

(Received Last Nisht, 9.05 o'clock."' SYDNEY, November 26.

The Union Company's clerks have finished unloading fhe Willochra and Manuka. They are now engaged in removing the Makura's fruit. The Tofua arrived from Fiji with a record cargo of bananas ,their perishable nature_,making a quick clearance necessary. The Hons. Jas McGowen and A. O. Carmichaol have conferred with the secretary of the Seamen's Union.

It is reported that the Ministers unavailingly used endeavours to obtain a modification of the attitude of the Seamen's Union, in declining to man New Zealand steamers.

An interesting development to-day was ?he willingness" expressed by the Orama's stranded immigrants to work to New Zealand if required. ... . : An official of tlie Union Company asked for volunteers during " the morning and thirty names were handed in. The men have been asked to stand ready for a call. The Sydney Sun newspaper publishes a statement that the Union Company, desirous of shifting the stranded immigrants, proposed to man the Manuka with free labour.