MORE RESIGN FROM MAORI

Press, Issue 32345, 10 July 1970, Page 1

MORE RESIGN FROM MAORI

Hopes that the inter-island steamer Maori might have been able to sail today with the relief crew which took over last evening were dashed by resignations from another 11 seamen yesterday. The men were members of the relieving crew.

So far 27 seamen have resigned from the vessel, and now neither of the two crews which man the Maori on a week-on-week-off basis has a full complement. The Maori was stranded at Lyttelton on Sunday evening when 14 seamen resigned in protest at the Shipping and Seamen Amendment (No. 2) Bill. Two more of that crew resigned on Wednesday for the same reason. The vessel has been moved to a nonworking berth and for the last four days calls for seamen to man the steamer have been unsuccessful. Another call will be made today.

The Karepo, which, like the Maori, is owned by the Union Steam Ship Company, was able to sail for Wellington yesterday afternoon with a full crew, however. Six seamen accepted positions on the Karepo on Wednesday and two more joined the vessel yesterday. The district manager of the company (Mr L. M. Fair-

weather) said last evening that another of the company's inter-island vessels, the Holmlea, would arrive at Lyttelton today and would leave fully loaded. The Holmlea would clear any waiting cargo, and a Railways Department estimate of 120 waggons of freight awaiting shipment to the North Island would be made up largely of cargo delayed by the Cook Strait ferry dispute. There were reports yesterday of some Christchurch manufacturers having trouble with the supply of raw materials from the North Island, but most concern ts being caused by the inability to meet North Island orders for goods. The National Airways Corporation will make two special flights between Christchurch and Wellington today to cater for the increased number of passengers travelling by air. Special arrangements for the week-end will depend on developments in ithe shipping dispute today.