Seamen Start Sit-in

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31234, 5 December 1966, Page 1

Seamen Start Sit-in

c.V Z Press Association) DUNEDIN, Dec. 4. Twenty-five seamen on board the Waihemo at Dunedin today began a sit-in to protest at the withdrawal of the ship from North American trade. They strung cloth banners demanding a State-owned ship-; ping line on the stem of the; Waihemo and issued a protest; statement. The Waihemo arrived ati

Dunedin today at the end of its service on the Pacific run. The seamen's articles of employment end at midnight tonight Instead of returning to their home ports, however, the 25 men decided to stay on board the ship for several days to publicise their claims. They have bought enough provisions to feed themselves for several days, according to • the union delegate on the i ship, Mr D. J. Morgan. Earlier this year the Union ' Steam Ship Company anI nounced that it was withdraw- ; ing from the North American trade and would dispose of ithe Waihemo and Waitemata

which were used for the service. The seamen said today the Waihemo and Waitemata were not being replaced by New Zealand tonnage. The growing trade on the Pacific route was being taken over by foreignowned and foreign-manned ships, and the owners of these ships were already “bleeding ; this country dry with their excessive freight rates.” The Waihemo may have been sold. The Waihemo’s sister ship, the Waitemata, is now sailing from Auckland to Vancouver on her last round voyage on the Pacific route for the Union Company.