SHIP’S LONG STAY IN N.Z.

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26396, 14 April 1951, Page 6

SHIP’S LONG STAY IN N.Z.

Crew Now “Displaced Persons” LETTER TO WELLINGTON . NEWSPAPER (New Zealand Pres* Association) WELLINGTON, April 13. The editor of the "Dominion’' has received the following ieuer written on behalf of the crew of toe Federal Steam Navigation Company’s ship Durham, in port at Wellington:— "Sir,—May we, the officers and crew of the m.v. Durham, apply lor admittance to any aispiaced persons’ organisat on here in Wellington? The izurham sailed from Liverpool on November 4 and arrived at Auckland on December 8. The glorious panorama of the coastline bewitched us for a fortnight, but eventually we recovered from our enchantment and brought the ship alongside the wharf just In time /Or the railwaymen’s strike, plus the Christmas holidays, followed by tite New Year and summer holidays. The waterside workers managed to coax us into surrendering a couple of thousand tons of cargo, and we sailed for Wellington, arriving at dawn on Monday, January 22. “The Harbour Board’s welcome was as warm as that of a prosperous man welcoming his impoverished mother-in-law.-» From the •spare attic’ at Aotea quay, where we languished for two weeks, we moved into the ‘guest-room at Pipitea. Alas for our hopes. One week later we returned to the attic, but you can't keep a good ship down, and 67 days after we arrived here we were promoted to a berth at Taranaki street, provided we used the tradesman’s entrance at the Queen s wharf gate to get to and from the city. “Soon, with tears in, our eyes, we must say farewell to this enchanted city, which has been our . enforced home for 82 days. Up to now our score is 126 days In New Zealand, but We hope, with the permission of Messrs Barnes and Hill, that in another 90 or 100 days we shall be restored to the bosom of our loving families. Please let us return to the place whence We came. Oceans Will divide us> . b “ t memories of Wellington will remain in our hearts for ever; memories of pouring rain on cold nights and having to walk from Courtenay place to Queen's wharf gate to get to the Taranaki street wharf. ,■ ‘Tot another three month* we must remain as displaced persons,.unloved, unwanted, ana unworked,. slowly, oh 9,0 very slowly, wending our weary wav from port to port. But who can tell,' perhaps some day on the sparkling water* of the Mersey, by the Wkissed shores of Livemool,we riiall find the peace and conteniment that