The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1944-11-23
COMMENT ON WORLD
EVENTS

1t is truly world news, Of concern
and interest in many nations, that tn,
American maritime industry, though
beset with serious shortages of ex
perienced seamen and officers to mar
it's merchant ships supplying al
battlefronts, cleared it's decks at ar
industry wide conference in Washing.
ton, and agreed on a program which
will help solve it's manpower prob.
lens.
Edward Macaley, War Shipping
Administration deputy administrator
in summing up the conference be-
tween maritime unions, ship opera
tor association representatives, and
officials of Army Transportation
Service, Navy, Coast Guard, War
Manpower Commission, Selectiv e
Service and immigration and Natur-
alization Service, reported the pro-
posals which received general in
dorsement by the conference were:
Extension of union and operator office
hours when necessary, particularly
during the holiday season; a freer
exchange of information as to man.
power resources between unions,
companies and the VISA Recruitment
and Manning Organization; agree
ment by unions and operators to pro-
vide machinery for settling "beefs"
Immediately upon termination of the
voyage; full publicity on contribution
of the merchant marine to the war.
Macauley emphasized to the con-
ference the necessity for closer CO.
operation and coordination. "Unless
ship operating companies and unions
cooperate and coordinate their activ-
tiles more closely, we may have
serious difficulties in manning Ameri-
can flag vessels during the holiday
season." he declared.
The deputy administrator pointed
to the fact that the experienced sea-
men in active merchant service should
be given more credit for the splendid
job they have performed since the
beginning of the war. He assured the
conference that VISA was not un-
of it's responsibility to the
men in the merchant marine, and that
all possible would be done to main
tain their present status.
VISA pointed out that nearly 5000
active merchant seamen are leaving
the industry each month, and that
controls had to be tight
ened to retain the men, War Man |
power Commissioner Paul McNutt as
sured the conference that VINO would |
DO all possible to recruit seamen.
Major General Lewis B. Hershey,
Selective Service director, said that
Selective Service had gone as far as
possible in deferring seamen. "Only
active merchant seamen and limited
number of young men under 26 doing
special jobs in vital war industries
ire now deferred from active military
ervice," he pointed out. "Those over
rs who enter essential industry re-
eive more liberal consideration for
he said.
Full discussion was had of the
possibility of lifting seamen's and
'fficers' certificates and licenses if
hey refused to sail during wartime,
md the payment of standby wages
Turing an active seaman's allowable
hore leave in order to induce him to
tay in the industry. Unions and the
perator associations representatives
greed to give study to these two
Earlier in the meeting, Maritime
Commission Chairman Vice Admiral I
,mory S. Land forecast the full-scale
peration of the present merchant
eet for at least 3lh years after ces [
alton of hostilities due to the de- {
hands for supplies, rehabilitation
'ork and the movement of troops in [
lany parts of the world.