HOLD-UP ENDED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 256, 10 August 1934, Page 8

HOLD-UP ENDED

THE POSITION AT AUCKLAND, * DEPARTURE OF VESSELS. (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, August 9. The general hold-up of coastal shipping at Auckland, which had lasted since Tuesday, ended this afternoon. The seamen from the nine ships concerned held a meeting in the morning, and later informed .the masters that they would be prepared to sail at 1 o'clock. Their decision practically coincided with the receipt in Auckland of news that the 70 seamen who been sentenced at Greymouth to terms of imprisonment for refusing to take their ships to sea had been released from gaol. The vessels affected were the Union Company's motor-ship Hauraki and the steamers Waipiata and Waimea, the 'Line steamer Port Whangarei, and the Northern Company's ships Motu, Hauiti, Omana, Pono, and Kawau. The Union Company's vessels were delayed on Tuesday night and the trouble spread on Wednesday to the other ships, all of which are on New Zealand articles. Two other Northern Company vessels, the Ronald and the Ahuturu, arrived at Onehunga from West Coast ports on Wednesday,_ but as they were not due to sail until today they were not really involved in the hold-up. After the masters, had been informed of the men's decision, the companies were notified, and all arrangements weve made for the departure of the ships, most of which had been ready for sea since Tuesday or AVednesday. Seven of the nine vessels left Auckland early this afternoon.

FOUR SHIPS FROM GREYMOUTH.

GREYMOUTH, August 9.

Four of the five vessels held up here by the seamen's dispute sailed tonight. They were: Rata, 9 o'clock for Westport; Poolta, 9.30 o'clock for New Plymouth, .Kaimai, 10 o'clock for Wellington; and Titoki, 11 o'clock for Nelson. The fifth vessel, the Kaimiro, loaded with 1,000,000 feet of white pine for Melbourne has to await a deeper bar, which may prevail to-morrow through a change of the wind to northerly otherwise some of her cargo will probably require unloading.

MEN REJOIN THEIR SHIPS.

GREYMOUTH,. August 9. The 70 seamen sentenced here on Tuesday spent only about half a day at Paparua prison and returned overland to Greymouth by this afternoon's express, rejoining their ship's at 8 p.m. The Titoki's crew to-night signed new articles. The seamen were met on arrival at the station by a large crowd, while the Watersiders' Union marched to the station but the seamen did not march to-day as they did when going to prison. The officials of the Seamen's Union, Mr Walsh (secretary), Mr Clarke (Dunedin'), and Mr Martin, iLytteltoii), arrived to-day and proceeded to Westport, where to-night they will endeavour to induce 100 seamen there to take their vessels to sea. A decision, however, is unlikely until noon to-morrow.