STEAMER HELD UP.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18457, 11 August 1925, Page 10

STEAMER HELD UP.

SEVENTEEN OF CREW UNDER ARREST. There was a "full house" at the Lyttelton Police Station last evening, the reason for the sudden influx of prisoners being that seventeen members of the crew of the steamer Willaston are under arrest to. appear at the Lyttelton Magistrate's Court this morning charged with refusing duty. Trouble arose in tho vessel some days ago, when, there being a shortage of six men in the stokehold, local men who are ashore refused to sign on except on the New Zealand conditions regarding wages and food. The Willaston is on English articles, the conditions of which are much below the New Zealand standard. Tho master of the vessel agreed to the demands made but the men further demanded that a proper agreement be drawn up and endorsed on tho articles. This the master also agreed to, and the men were signed on on Saturday.

The position was that the new men were receiving much better wages and conditions than the English members of the crew who were doing exactly the same work, and this led to the trouble yesterday. When the crew was ordered to prepare to proceed to sea they, it is alleged, refused to work un less they were granted the same waees and conditions as the new members of the crew. They were therefore chareel with refusing duty and placed under artest.

Shipping officials allege that the reil cause of tho trouble is resentment mi the part of a section of the coastal sen men at vessels like the Willaston <f English articles, being employed tn bring cargo from the Pacific doast of America to the Dominion. They C oi tend that overseas ships should notV" chartered for this trade, )c