N.Z. Ships Held Up In Sydney

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32219, 11 February 1970, Page 28

N.Z. Ships Held Up In Sydney

' (N Z P A Staff Correspondent) ! SYDNEY, February 10. ■ New Zealand-bound (ships are being hit by the inter-union dispute (which has tied up the (Port* of Sydney. The (Union Steam Ship Com(pany’s freighters Ma(heno, Kawaroa, Katea and Waikare are affectled. A company spokesman said today that the Kawaroa would sail tonight for Wellington and New Plymouth short ! loaded by about 500 tons of! general cargo. The Katea which has been loading steel in Port Kembla for New Plymouth and Auck land will sail direct for New Zealand tonight. She had been scheduled to call at Syd ney before crossing the Tas man. "It’s futile to bring her here,” the spokesman said. “There appears to be no prospect of an early settlement of the dispute. Cargo sheds are already jammed

and there is a serious shortage of waterfront labour." Maheno Sailing

Unless there is a break in the dispute, which has led to a halt in all road deliveries to and from the docks, the roll-on freighter Maheno will sail light on Thursday. On present indications 1000 tons of cargo scheduled for Auckland will not- be delivered in time for loading. Cargo landed from the ship also cannot be delivered.

A shipment of livestock, including 32 yearlings pur'chased at the Trentham sales, is all that has moved from the wharf area. The Maheno arrived from New Zealand yesterday. Refrigerated Cargo

The dispute is also delaying the discharge of refrigerated cargo from the Waikare. About 300 tons of chilled or frozen fish, cheese and vegetables cannot be moved from the ship’s holds until it can be trucked from the wharf.

The only other New Zealand ships in Sydney are the Kaimiro—discharging a ship-

,ment of newsprint and timber —and the Waimea, which is scheduled to sail for the South Island tomorrow night after completion of a survey. The next Union Company! ship due in from New Zea l land is the Ngahere, with! timber, next Tuesday.