SEAMEN MAN AORANGI

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26465, 5 July 1951, Page 6

SEAMEN MAN AORANGI

Vessel To Sail From Sydney To-day (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 4. With unexpected suddenness, seamen decided at the second and final call early this afternoon to man the transpacific liner, Aorangi, More than 60 members of the crew walked off the ship on June 4 in protest against the serving of summonses on the secretary of the Waterside Workers’ Federation (Mr James Healy). Naval ratings, who were already aboard, would have sailed the ship to-morrow if the seamen had not returned.

When the call was made, the seamen stepped forward and in a few minutes most positions in the liner’s deck and engine-room departments were filled. The men picked were old hands from the Aorangi. The crew should be complete tomorrow when former members, not present to-day. are expected to come forward. The first call at 9.40 a.m. brought no response, though more than 50 seamen were present. In Canberra this afternoon, the Minister of Labour (Mr E. H. Holt) said that the 69 naval ratings now aboard the vessel would be withdrawn. Eleven watersiders. who walked off the ship when the naval ratings went aboard yesterday, were ordered to-day to return and the number of watersiders working the ship was increased to 130.

The ship is expected to leave Sydney at 4 p.m. to-morrow for Vancouver via Auckland.