Banana Boat’s Crew Refuse To Sail

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32194, 13 January 1970, Page 1

Banana Boat’s Crew Refuse To Sail

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 12. The Union Steam Ship Company’s freighter Tarawera is delayed in Apia with more than 13,000 cases of bananas on board. Her crew members are refusing to take the ship to sea.

A spokesman for the company said that one crewman was declared unfit for three days yesterday, and when the sailing time arrived at midnight the crew refused to put to sea.

He said the vessel was carrying more crew than was legally required and was not undermanned. He believed that union officials had sent instructions to delegates on board the Tarawera to sail, but this hud been rejected. However, the secretary of the Seamen’s Union (Mr L. A Barber) said this afternoon that he had not yet received any information about the delay at Apia. He was awaiting a report from the union delegate in the ship. “It is proving a considerable embarrassment to us and to the fruit producers.” the company spokesman said. The Tarawera had loaded 13,250 cases of bananas from

Apia and was due to take on another 10,000 to 12,000 cases in Tonga. The captain of the 1825-ton freighter offered to have the unfit crewman flown to Nukuatofa, the next port of call,

when he was fit enough to continue, but this offer to get the ship moving was refused. The Tarawera is carrying the first direct shipment this season of Island bananas for Wellington and Lyttelton.