Ship row hits island

Press, 24 May 1977, Page 12

Ship row hits island

PA Invercargill Builders on Stewart Island may have to terminate contracts this week because of a continuing refusal by members of the Seamen’s Union in the ferry Wairua to load urgently needed timber and joinery supplies. The refusal to load the timj ber at Bluff indicated another i confrontation looming over the Wairua this week. Wellington sources said that an unhappy Mr Stuart, South Island secretary of the Seamen’s Union, left talks with the Ministry of Transport over last week’s dispute without getting his own way. A bid to have the suspension of a seaman, the subject

11 of last week’s dispute, lifted ! failed. It will now be lifted i 11 next January 1. The , ■ watchman-seaman was sus-j upended for convictions fori ■itheft and smuggling while; ii in the Bulknes. 11 Tentative arrangements' I were made by Southland ■ firm of timber merchants on i - Thursday afternoon to have ■ bujlders’ supplies at the Bluff i r | ferry terminal for loading on -i Saturday morning. II The seamen advised the i officers of the Wairua late on • Friday afternoon that the i timber would not be loaded t and the firm was advised ■ after 5 p.m. on Friday to cancel all the arrangements. The member of Parliament t for Awarua (Mr W, R, Austin)

said on Friday that union members in the Wairua i would be paid an extra IA ‘days pay a week, in addition ito food and accommodation, :j for living in the vessel as part lof a “hard line” agreement (which includes modifications I to the ship’s accommodation, i This work consists mainly of ‘providing more bathroom ; space and is expected to cost between $17,000 and $20,000. The extra H days’ pay claimed by the seafnen- for living in the ship will add about $l5OO to $lBOO a year per crew member to the ship’s running costs. Mr Austin said that the allowance would be paid : irrespective of whether the men lived at Bluff.