First Ship Held Up By Strike

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31365, 10 May 1967, Page 20

First Ship Held Up By Strike

The Japanese freighter Shoan Mani became idle at Lyttelton late yesterday afternoon as a direct result of the railway strike. Because it has been impossible to bring bogies through the tunnel from Christchurch, she has been unable to continue discharging Japanesebuilt rail waggon components for this port Wool loading begun on Monday, has now been completed and the vessel is idle. There is still one day’s discharging to complete at Lyttelton before the Shoan Maru can sail to Auckland. Otherwise, work went smoothly on the waterfront. Vessels used road transport either separately, or in conjunction with available rail waggons handled by wharf capstans.

Refrigerated cargo loadings have not yet been affected. The Crusader completed her Pacific coast quota on Monday and is due to sail for Napier today. Four other ships due this week and booked to load refrigerated cargo may be affected. Small consignments could come to the port by road transport. About 25 British and Continental ships in New Zealand port could be affected if the rail strike continues till the end of this week, according to the Overseas Shipowners’ Committee in Wellington, the Press Association reported. Ships were already held up at Wellington, Port Chalmers, Auckland and New Plymouth because of a lack of frozen meat cargo.