MANUKA HELD UP

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 58, 9 March 1928, Page 10

MANUKA HELD UP

DISMISSAL OF FIREMEN (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN.. Sth March. Dissatisfaction among tho crew of the Union Company's steamer Manuka, owing to the services of a fireman being dispensed with, resulted in the vessel being unable to sail to-night for BluE and Melbourne. The man was given notice to sign off the ship's articles on her arrival at Dunedin shortly before 1 p.m. to-day from Lyttelto'i The remaiuder of the crew took exception to this, and the Union Company was unable to secure a man to fill the vacancy, although there are a large number of firemen ashore here. The company then had no alternative but to give the crew twenty-four hours' notice of the termination of their services, and the men will be paid off to-morrow. The Manuka had over 190 passengers on board this evening. These included several travellers who are making the round voyage from Melbourne. Seventyfive booked at Dunedin, 54 from Lyttelton, and 57 from Wellington. An ad* ditional 80 ■ passengers are booked to join the ship at Bluff, so that over 270 people are placed in an awkward predicament. When it was announced that tho departure of the Manuka had been postponed indefinitely, the Dunedin passengers came ashore and returned to their homes. The passengers from Melbourne, Wellington, and Lyttelton remained on board to-night, hoping that the ship will sail to-morrow. Tho inconvenience to the passengers is nil the more annoying owing to the fact that there, is. no other steamer leaving New Zealand this week for Austrj^ia, the intercolonial service having been disorganised owing to the Uliniaroa being held up at Sydney. The plight of the Manuka is accentuated owing to tho fact that practically all tl.o accommodation on the Marama, to leave Wellington on lGtli March for Sydney, has been booked.