MAIL NOT HANDLED

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28820, 14 February 1959, Page 12

MAIL NOT HANDLED

Films For S.I.

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 13. _ Thi inter-island steamer Maori was delayed for 20 minutes tonight at Wellington as seamen discussed whether or not they would accept films destined for South Island theatres to be loaded as mail. The films had been consigned through the Post Office.

The rest of the mail was accepted, but the seamen contended that the films were not mail.

Officials of the Union Steam Ship Company paced the wharf talking to seamen, other workers and Post Office representatives, while anxious passengers wondered if the boat would sail at all.

About a dozen men assisting tn loading leaned against the wharf shed smoking, with the films in the slings at their feet, as thev waited for the seamen to make known their decision. Asked whether the films would be loaded, one man shrugged: ‘‘lt’s up to them,” he said, pointing to the seamen on the deck above. ‘‘We’ve loaded all' the mail.”

With a decision finally made, the men on the wharf were instructed to return the films to a lorry, which took them back to the Post Office.

The films were “definitely mail,” said a Post Office spokesman tonight. He confirmed that the films were the only mail refused.

Special rates, he said, had m some cases been paid to ensure the arrival of the films on time. Now it appeared they would have to be air-freighted. The first air mail tomorrow morning for Christchurch and Dunedin will not leave till 5.30 and might not arrive. till 10 a.m. This could be too late for some connexions to other centres.