S.S. VICTORIA HELD UP

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2551, 27 August 1915, Page 8

S.S. VICTORIA HELD UP

SEAMEN CAUSE TROUBLE. % Once again the travelling'public and business community have been much in- ' convenienced by the inconsiderate action of the seamen employed on a steamertrading on the New Zealand coast. Tho Huddart-Parker steamer Victoria, which arrived at Wellington from Dunedin and Lyttelton yesterday, was to liave continued her journey on to' northern ports last evening. The firemen"' and some of the sailora refused to taW the vessel away, however, WessQthei , demand for aii abnormal increase .-in;- • wages was complied with. The Victoria has been running "bei tween Dvmediii and Auckland for several months, and connecting at the latter ; port -with the Riverina for Sydney. For i several reasons the company thought . it desirable to vary the running, so as to 1 allow the Victoria to continue through- - from Newi Zealand to Sydney for two i trips, while the Riverina would extend : her running from Auckland to Diinedia. . in her plape. > - ■/-. , ' The firemen and sailors on the ■ toria stated that they would decline Wi take the vessel on to Sydney unless theyf i were paid £15 and £14 respectively for 1 . . the eight-day run from Wellington to' . Sydney, with a guaranteed passage to- ' New Zealand. They also demanded £15 > to go from Wellington to Auckland.' 1 Tho Huddart-Parker Company, could not' l see its -way clear to grant this request,' ; and consequently -,the men gave thfl' > neoessary, 24 hours', notice in Igrtteltotki on Wednesday and refused to leave ilk i the ship last evening. When spoken, to' regarding the matter yesterday, officials : of the Company told a Dominion re% ! porter that, the owners could only. look upon .the whole affair as a deliberate "stick-up." i There have been several similar in-' stances lately in connection with steam- 1 ' ers which have been trading on the Newi Zealand coast and proceeding to Ausy tralia being held up by seamen asking for abnormal wages. _ Three steamera; at least—the Westralia, Pateena, ani Mararoa—have been similarly treated! quite recently. In the case of the Victoria, however, the company's -officials' said that'"it is hard to see any excusa , for such action, as she is not leaving the trade, and she is not being laid'up in Sydney." . Meantime tho Victoria's departure: from Wellington for. northern ports an<£ Sydney has been postponed till to-day.,'