SHIPPING NEWS

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33778, 26 February 1975, Page 19

SHIPPING NEWS

Labour shortage continues

(By

JOHN LESLIE)

Lyttelton’s labour shortage continues, and occasional rain showers do little to alleviate the problem. Yesterday morning, when work began, 428 unionists, 15 nonunionists, and 31 crew members were engaged, plus another 55 unionists for supplementary hours last evening.

Yet there was still a shortage of 225 men. and several ships were short-manned. The Chatham Islands trader Holmdale, which signed on a crew yesterday after being laid up because of lack of cargo, had no labour at all. The South Island secretary of the Seamen’s Union (Mr T. Stuart) said that the eight seamen who signed on the Holmdale again were all original crew members who had been on leave. Another 25 seamen were still looking for ships at Lyttelton yesterday morning, he said. On present programming, the indications are not good, according to the Lyttelton Harbour Board’s traffic manager (Mr J. B. Graham), who predicted heavy demands on labour and port facilities. “It is certainly not improving, and more ships are expected by the week-end,” he said. “Others must sail to relieve things.” The Hoimdale, according to a Union Steam Ship Company spokesman, has a good cargo booked for the Chathams, when she gets labour to load it all. It comprises the usual general hardware, refrigerated cargo, fuel oil, vehicles, foodstuffs, beer and spirits, and the inevitable livestock —. this trip, just two rams, two dogs, and a cat.

The “cloak and dagger” aspect of things in the recent Sutch trial has caused amusement, tempered with concern, on the Lyttelton waterfront, which is wide open . - espionage or sabotage if one thought seriously. In spite of the round-the-clock dedicated vigilance of port police and customs and harbour board officers it is apparent to anybody that Canterbury’s coastline is vulnerable to anything.

If the writer wishes to talk to a Russian or other foreign shipmaster he does not make secret rendezvous underneath Cashin Quay or behind the timeball station. He just goes aboard. But such visits are official.

The ship’s agent, and customs, provedore, and other official visitors sit with the master usually, amid piles of papers, documents, and often a bottle of vodka. The writer takes notes openly in front of the master, in writing only he can read. If any of the visitors, all of whom work closely together, came ashore looking mysterious or gazing up and down, everyone would laugh at them. They all know one another and work together. Naturally, identification, plus long association with shipping agents, is necessary for free movement.

Waterfront workers go into the holds of foreign vessels. When the Great Moscow Circus arrived by sea in December, 1973, one waterfront worker was photographed with his arm round a tame performing bear. Nothing passed between them but smiles. New Zealand’s national friendliness is perhaps our strongest weapon. It cannot be denied that there is a “tauter” atmosphere aboard Russian vessels than those of other nations. But the language barrier, and geographical isolation for many years, have not helped. The New Zealander’s open friendliness can be received suspiciously by those uninitiated into our ways. The writer normally takes a

[copy of “The Press” to a visiting foreign shipmaster. It would be easy enough to wrap a “Turf Digest” in it, or anything else. When the first post-war Russian merchant vessel i called at Lyttelton some, years ago, things were rather! formal. One sensed alertness,! wariness, even tension — initially only. Now, years later, things [are easing. There is a common “language” of ships, cargo, and so on. There are sometimes jokes — with or without vodka. Seafarers are international. They make poor spies. ARRIVALS Rangatira (6.45 a.m.), 9387, Capt. J. D. Cleaver, Wellington (U.S.S.). Union Sydney (5.12 p.m.l, 4752, Capt. A. Dodds, Melbourne (U.S.S.). DEPARTURES Rangatira (8.8 p.m.), 9387, Capt. J. D. Cleaver, Wellington (U.S.S.). Union Sydney" (10 p.m.), 4752, Capt. A. Dodds, Wellington (U.S.S.). EXPECTED ARRIVALS Coastal Trader, Timaru, today. Japan Totara, Wellington, today. Sinkiang, Wellington, today. Hupeh, Wellington, February 27. Hobart Star. Auckland, February 27. Rangatira, Wellington, February 27. Athelviscount. Wellington, February 28 (tanker). Australia Bear, Auckland). February 28. (L.A.S.H.). Atrevida, Bluff, February 28. Alekseevsk. Timaru, February 28 (tanker). Vaueluse, Dunedin, February 28. Limpsfield, Nelson, February 28. Amalric, Bluff, February 28. Union Sydney, Wellington, February 28. Chevron Venice, Arabian Gulf, March 1 (tanker). Norfolk Maru. Wellington, March 1. Golar Fruit, Auckland, March 1. Rangatira, Wellington, March 1. Novoaltaysk, Wellington, March 2. Teesta, Wellington, March 2. Ngakuta, Dunedin, March 2. Hawea, Wellington, March 4.

PROJECTED DEPARTURES Coastal Trader, Auckland,

today. Rangatira, Wellington, February 27. Leuve Lloyd, Timaru, February 27. Holmdale, Chathams, February 28. Sinkiang, Tauranga, February 28. Voce, , February 7 28. Medic, Bluff, February 28. Forresbank, Port Moresby. February 28. Union Sydney, Melbourne, February 28. Alekseevsk, Wellington, March 1.

(Tanker.) Australia Bear, Lae, February 28. (L.A.S.H.). Rangatira, Wellington, March 1. (Daylight.) Athelviscount, Bluff, March 1 (tanker). Chevron Venice, Bluff, March 2

(tanker). Japan Rimu, Dunedin, March 3 Golar Fruit, , March 3. Hawea, Dunedin, March 4. Durango, Whangarei, March 5.

VESSELS IN PORT Durango, No. 1 Cashin Quay. Leuve Lloyd, No. 3 Cashin Quay. Japan Rimu. G.P.E. Medic, No. 1 B.W. Holmdale. No. 3 East. Iberian Reefer, No. 3 West. Ngapara, No. 6 West. Voce, No. 7 East. Forresbank, No. 7 West.