WANGANELLA NOW IN DOCK

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 14295, 19 February 1947, Page 3

WANGANELLA NOW IN DOCK

REFUSAL OF DECK HANDS TO ASSIST. NOTABLE FEAT, OF SEAMANSHIP P.A. Wellington, Feb. IS. Crippled and without the aid of tugs, the damaged liner Wanganella, .under her own power, was moved this afternoon from her. berth at Aotea, Quay to the floating dock, after the small party of deck hands remaining aboard had . refused to assist in the docking. The pilot for the hazardous half-mile journey, was Captain D. M. Todd, deputy harbourmaster at Wellington, whose expert seamanship in performing successfully a feat believed to be without precedent in the history of the floating dock aroused widespread commendation on the waterfront.

Captain G. McDonald, of Melbourne, who is in charge of the salvage of the liner for the Marine Underwriters' and Salvage Association of Victoria, said to-night that deck hands aboard the Wanganeila refused to handle lines or help in the docking shortly before the ship was ready to move. A spokesman on their behalf, Mr E. V. Elliott, oL Sydney, federal secretary of the Australian Seamen's Union, had yesterday demanded of Captain McDonald a further increase in pay for the men. and this had been refused. No help was forthcoming from the Wellington Harbour Board's tug Toia, which went alongside the damaged liner early this afternoon, Captain McDonald continued. Members of: her crew refused to help dock the Wanganeila, after being addressed from the liner by Mr Elliott.