THE HOLD UP OF THE PATEENA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 223, 8 June 1918, Page 6

THE HOLD UP OF THE PATEENA

DEPARTURE 01? THE VESSEL ■ UNCERTAIN. A climax of the troublo. with the iiiemen oa the tteamer l'ateena was reached yesterday morning, when the complement of six firemen came .ishore. Thiea men who joined tho ship on Wednesday lit tho ordinary rate of pay gavo notice U> leave yesterday, and the three won who were engaged at tile last minute at Oil a day to enable the ship to (jet away were signed 011 lor one trip only. 1 A. •large minvbif of idle.Jiraueii. ,w.era yes- . lerdny «ipui offered' work aAj'tH.% Pateem*., but none would accjpt it, and when at 12.15 p.m. the vessel stiould. luiva sailed for Ficion and Nelson" her ueparture was postponed until 2 p.in. 'J lia passengers, who included a good number of women and children, were at 2' t y.;u. told that Uio vessel would not tail heioro 5 p.m.' All .endeavours to obtain a crew vi'io unavailing, however, and at S p.in', tho passengers were informed that it would hoc be possible to get the vessel away .last nignt. Several intending passeni gers booked berths on Hie Kaitoa, tailing for Nelson, but as tho "accommodation ou this steamer was not s:iiiii:t»:;it for all those wanting ber;hs.. tho ma- ; jority of, the would-be passengers were forced lo seek lodgings ashore. Mr. \\ . T. Young, secretary of tho Seamen's. Federation, when seen by reporter, said he could make no. statement as to the men's attitude. He had not seen any ol' the men. He only knew that firemen in port, had refused lo sign on the l'ateena. He could not say whether they would be satisfied if -tha dismissed man was reinstated. Union Company officials say that men are available," and could be secured if only the union officials would assist. The following intimation in referenco lo the l'ateena was ' posted on tho notice-board of the Seamen ts "Union: "Men are asked to man. the ship as per union agreement." _ Another effort will be made io sign on a crew to-day.