WITH VOLUNTEER CREW

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 142, 12 December 1935, Page 12

WITH VOLUNTEER CREW

NIAGARA AT AUCKLAND

CALL FOR LABOUR IGNORED

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, December 11,

Manned for a second time with a volunteer crew, the Royal Mail liner Niagara arrived from Sydney this morning to load for island ports and Canada. No. response for labour was made by members of the Waterside Workers' Union to load the vessel, and cargo had to be loaded by the ship's crew assisted by members of the Union Company's permanent shore staff and some non-union labour. Loading operations were carried on all day expeditiously and without interference.

Similar conditions prevailed when the Niagara.was at Auckland two weeks ago, when she arrived from Vancouver with a volunteer crew. Cargo on that occasion was also discharged by the crew and the Union Company's staff because the waterside workers ignored a call for labour.

An exceptionally large amount of cargo was loaded today, the principal items being wool, casks of tallow, meat, butter, hides, as well as various sundries. She is to sail at an early hour tomorrow morning, and when she departs her holds will be filled. Owing to being delayed at Sydney by the Australian seamen's strike the Niagara is running two-days behind schedule, but that time will probably be picked up before she reaches ..Vancouver,