ENGINEERS STRIKE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 134, 9 June 1939, Page 11

ENGINEERS STRIKE

NIAGARA HELD UP

DISPUTE OVER CABINS

DELAY IN SYDNEY

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received June 9, 10 a.m.)

SYDNEY, This Day,

The Union Company liner Niagara, which has just come out of dock after undergoing an extensive overhaul, and was due to sail last nigbt for Auckland, did not get away, owing to labour trouble.

Officials of the company said that they hoped the vessel would sail at 10 o'clock this morning.

The trouble arose because several junior engineers were dissatisfied with their quarters.

Members of the crew said that the quarters for the engineers left much to be desired. One man said: "Some of the cabins are like boxes, and become unbearable for two men to live in when we reach the Tropics."

The men allege that they were promised that arrangements would be made for them to obtain single-berth cabins dui-ing the Niagara's recent lay-up,-and when they found that ...is had not been done they decided to strike.

Although it is stated that 15 engineers are involved •in the dispute, it was noticed that only seven men left the ship.

The Niagara is a full ship, with 470 passengers.

A meeting of the Institute of Marine Engineers last night discussed the trouble with two officials of the Union Company, and the discussion was adjourned until this morning.

Officials of the union and of the company refused to divulge the result of the conference.