ALLEGED CONSPIRACY.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 115, 16 May 1924, Page 5

ALLEGED CONSPIRACY.

ACTION AGAINST UNION. THE "COFFIN SHIPS." (Received 9-30 a-m.) SYDNEY, May 13. The hearing has commenced of charges of alleged conspiracy against union officials. Captain Hollis, marine superintendent of the Commonwealth and Dominion line, gave evidence that he had received a message from the Captain of the Port Lyttelton at Launceston stating the crew had refused to take the vessel Ito sea unless they received a bonus of £20, as it was claimed the ship was unseaworthy. The witness later attended a meeting of dock officials and members of the transport gToup at Cockatoo Island, and related the owuers' side of the dispute in connection with the Port Lyttelton and Port Curtis, whereat Mr. Heffron, speaking for the transport group, said he would not touch the ships until the men of the Port Curtis were released and warrants against the men of the Port Lyttelton withdrawn. Cross-examined Capt. Hollis eaid that ■after the Port Lyttelton went aground at Launceston in January, they put to sea in a vessel making one hundred tons of water hourly, but claimed the vessel was Beaworthy. At the meeting at Cockatoo Island, witness asked Falkinghain whether the men agreed to take the Port Lyttelton to sea for a bonus of £20. Falkingham replied by asking whether witness had not known cases of men taking "coffin ships" to sea for a considerable increase in pay. (A and N.Z. Cable.) P 7 {