CREW REFUSES TO SAIL

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29270, 30 July 1960, Page 12

CREW REFUSES TO SAIL

Condensation On Cabin Wall (Hew Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 29. The coastal ship Holmburn was held up in Timaru today after the refusal qf the crew yesterday to take the ship to sea until extra insulation was provided on a bulkhead separating their quarters from a hold -containing frozen peas. Because of condensation in their accommodation two members of the crew were moved into passenger quarters. "In order to preserve the remainer of the frozen cargo in the interests of other shippers the company was compelled to off-load about 130 tons of frozen peas which were railed back to store,” a spokesman for the Holm Company said in Wellington tonight. “Had the Holmburn not been held up. the cargo would probably have been discharged at its destination in Wanganui today. “Apart from considerable inconvenience and the cost of several thousand pounds, the hold-up of the ship will delay the next servicing of the Chatham Islands." “The remedy to the condensation is not difficult," said another official of the company in Wellington tonight. “But as it would have involved considerable delay to the ship an<t was any inconvenience to anyone on board and in no way impaired the ship’s efficiency, the company decided to postpone the necessary work until the ship’s annual survey at the end of September.” This arrangement was made after consultation with the Seamen’s Union and the' company had then stated in all good faith that no further trouble was anticipated in the meantime, he said.

“However, due to the ship being delayed by bad weather, the frozen cargo had, on this occasion, been in the ship much longer than anticipated and a small amount of condensation occurred.

“In order to keep faith with the union the company advised them of this. The two men from the affected cabin who had already been living in a passengers’ room for two days, were quite happy with the arrangement and made no complaints. They were allowed to shift their gear during working hours and there was no trouble whatsoever in the ship.’’ The agents for the Holmburn. H. J. R. Somerville and Sons, Ltd., said in Timaru tonight that the lower freezing hold had been cleared of the cargo of frozen peas which were returned to deep freeze at the factory. Refrigeration engineers worked until 2 o’clock this morning repacking insulation in the upper freezing hold. The cargo of frozen peas is being reloaded into the upper hold only, and it is hoped the crew will take the ship to sea tomorrow when loading is completed.

We Australians are celebrated for our modesty.—Sir Eric Harrison, Australian High Commissioner in London.