DISPUTE ON WYE VALLEY

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26125, 30 May 1950, Page 4

DISPUTE ON WYE VALLEY

PAKISTANI SEAMEN REFUSE DUTIES REPATRIATION SAID TO BE WANTED (New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, May 29. The Pakistani crew of the freighter Wye Valley, which is unloading phosphate at Ravensbourne, has refused to take the ship to sea. but pending negotiations has agreed to carry out normal port duties. The trouble arose with the expiration of the men’s articles last Tuesday evening. The original articles, which were drawn up in India, provided for 12 months out of India. At the expiration of this term further articles were drawn up, under mutual agreement, for another six months. That period finished on Tuesday. The owners of the vessel, the Valley Navigation Company, wish the crew to remain on articles until the present charter is completed in another six months. Because of a misunderstanding. however, the crew has been under the impression that the contract ended on May 23.

The master of the vessel (Captain C. C. Waters) said that of 30 Indian members of the crew, only some were carrying out the normal port duties. Others were not working. An Auckland message says that the Pakistan Trade Commissioner in Australia (Mr K. H. Rahwan) has arrived in New Zealand to attempt to settle the dispute. “I am unable to comment upon the issue until such time as a solution has been amicably effected.” said Mr Rahwan. “I think I can safely say that the dispute will be quickly and satisfactorily settled. Pakistani seamen on the vessel have refused to carry out their normal duties since the articles binding them expired, and they have demanded immediate repatriation to Pakistan.”