STEAMERS HELD UP

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 17, 21 July 1919, Page 3

STEAMERS HELD UP

SEAMEN ANXIOUS TO REJOICE.

The ferry steamer M.araroa was held up at Lyttelton on Friday evening, owing to her crew's refusal to sail, consequent upon the men's desire to celebrate peace' in Christchurch. The Union Company (says a Press Association message) was given an assurance by the union that the men would proceed to sea on condition that they received an extra day's pay or extra day's leave. Upon the vessel's crew announcing their intention this morning to remain ashore, the local secretary of the Seamen's Union telegraphed to Wellington stating the position to the union officials, who, in their turn, telegraphed back advising the crew to sail. Nothing, however, would induce the crew to leave for Wellington, some of them jocularly remarking that - the King's instructions were that they should celebrate peace, and they would consequently take contrary orders from no one else. The Union Company's Navua, i which was to have sailed on Friday, was also ljeld up for the same reason as the Mararoa, but it is understood that the TofWs men also j objected to sail because the vessel was to be despatched for Newcastle, a port, affected by the seamen's strike. The coastal steamer Manaroa will remain in port until after the peace celebrations, her crew having also decided to stay' ashore to participate in- the demonstration. The Arahura is tied up at 'Auckland during the peace celebrations owing to the crew refusing to work. Consequently, the vessel will miss the usual Monday trip from Napier to Gisborne. Owing to the peace celebrations, the Pateena's crew could not be induced to take the vessel out of Onehunga on Saturday or Sunday. The vessel i% now to leave Onehunga at noon to-morrow, and will arrive here on- "Wednesday. She is to sail for the Northern port again on . Thursday at noon,