Maori Might Sail This Evening

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32349, 15 July 1970, Page 1

Maori Might Sail This Evening

The Union Steam Ship Company, owner of the inter-island steamer Maori which has been lying idle at Lyttelton without a crew for more than a week, is hopeful that seamen will come forward to man the vessel when a call is made at 10 a.m. today.

In view of the settlement brought down in the Cook Strait rail - ferry dispute, which was the cause of members of the crew of the Maori resigning last week, the company is tentatively arranging a sailing of the Maori to Wellington tonight The Maori needs 12 seamen, two greasers, and three other engine-room hands to give it a full complement It is believed that these men will be available on the

roster at Lyttelton when the call is made today. A call made yesterday for seamen to man the vessel—the seventh call since the first members of its crew resigned on July s—-was again unsuccessful. Last week 29 seamen resigned from the Maori, two because of illness and the rest in protest at the Shipping and Seamen Amendment (No. 2) Bill which was introduced to settle the Cook Strait dispute. The resignations affected both of the ship’s crews which work the Maori on a week-on, week-off basis. As a result the Maori was shifted to a non-working berth early last week and is still tied up there. The secretary of the Lyttelton Seamen’s Union (Mr D. A Morgan) was not available for comment last evening.