UNION S. S. CO. MAY BE PARALYSED.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3770, 4 March 1913, Page 5

UNION S. S. CO. MAY BE PARALYSED.

DISSATISFACTION AMONG THE ENGINEERS. A CRITICAL STACE REACHED. ABOUT 300 ENGINEERS INVOLVED. [PBEBB ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM] WELLINGTON, Mar. 3. The dissatisfaction among the engineers of the Union Company’s is said to be approaching a very critical point, and it is regarded as certain that unless a settlement is reached in a few days the whole of the ‘ ‘Red Funnel” steamers will bo laid up. The engineers have expressed the intention of giving notice to cease work as soon a's possible owing to the refusal of the Company to concede conditions of work and wages on a par with those of the existing Australian Arbitration Court award. A ballot was taken recently by the Union Company’s engine-room staffs,, and the result is in favor of drastic .steps to obtain improved conditions, regarding which ‘the late conference between the Company’s representatives and the Union delegates conld not find a basis of agreement. Mr W. A. Kennedy, local manager of the Company, said to-day that lie had .been approached, and so far as he knew the Company would adhere to its intention to have the matter •brought before the Conciliation Council.

A pressman was informed that the Maori’s engineers will give 24 hours’ notice required b.v the Act at Lyttelton to-morrow. The engineers of the Monowai, now en route to Auckland, will probably give notice prior to her return to Dunedin next week. Notices from those on the Flora and Pateena are regarded as imminent. Mr Wallace, secretary of the Engineers’ Institute, is reticent as to the men’s intentions. A meeting of the Institute was held to-day, hut the proceedings were kept strictly confidential. If all the Union Company’s fleet is held up, about 300 engineers will be involved.