THE SHIPPING TROUBLE

Evening Star, Issue 18135, 27 November 1922, Page 8

THE SHIPPING TROUBLE

WAIKOUAITI AND KAIMANAWA SAIL. PALOONA WITHOUT A GREW. Fresh developments in connection with the shipping hold-up occurred at Dunedin during the week-end, when the orew of the Union Company’s interstate passenger steamer Paloona gave twenty-four .hour's’ notice at about 6 p.m. on 'Saturday of their intention to leave the ship on reaching Dunedin. The Paloona reached port at 7 a.m. yesterday .from .Melbourne and Bluff, and the period of the crew’s notice expired last evening. About twenty-one of the men belong to Dunedin, and these were signed off 'the articles this morning. Some rune or ten men belong to Lyttelton and Wellington, and as tbe master (Captain Do only J refused to accept their notice, under the terms of the seamen’s award, ’these men remain on board in the meantime.

The manager of the Union Company’s local branch (AD B. K. (Sleigh) stated today that he was waiting instructions from headquarters at Wellington concerning the Paloona. Until such instructions come to hand the vessel will remain at her berth at the Birch street wharf. A fair number of passengers have booked hero by the Palooua for Alelbournc, but as there is every likelihood of the steamer being laid up these will probably have to make other arrangements if they wish to reach their destination. The Paloona brought a large shipment of cargo, which includes transhipments from, several steamers from the United Kingdom, and the waters!dors were engaged in discharging tins cargo to-day. She also carries a quantity of freight for Lyttelton and Wellington, and this will probably be landed hero and ■forwarded on by one of the coastal boats this week.

Trouble was experienced with the Paloona’s orew at Melbourne on November 13, and the ship was held up there for about a week in consequence. One of the firemen demanded the Australian rate of pay, and the company wished to replace him, but the crow would not sail unless the dissatisfied fireman was signed on and his demands granted. After the men’s refusal of the order to get the vessel away the police arrested twenty-seven sailors and firemen, and twenty-five were subsequently sentenced to fourteen days’ hard labor on a charge of combining to impede the progress of the ship. The crow pleaded not guilty. An appeal was lodged on behalf of the imprisoned men. On November 20 -the imprisoned men were released after receiving written guarantees against victimisation, and the Paloona sailed at noon on that day for Bluff, Dunedin, Lyttelton, Wellington, and Melbourne.

It wad announced on Saturday that the Union Company’s cargo steamers Kaimanawa and Waikouaiti were to be despatched during the day for Westport and Lyttelton respectively, and the centre of interest was shifted to Port Chalmers. Both vessels cleared the port on Saturday evening, the Kaimanawa at 5.30 p.m. and the Waikouaiti at 8.30 p.m. The Union Company’s cargo steamer Kurow, which was held up at Auckland at the commencement of the trouble, reached Dunedin yesterday afternoon by way of Wellington and Lyttelton. She is the fifth Union steamer to reach this port manned with a non-union crew. The Kurow made excellent time on the run down the coast, only six days elapsing from tho time she left Auckland to her arrival here. The Kurow’s cargo includes a large consignment of sugar and new potatoes from Auckland. The Breeze, which was unable to leave Dunedin on Friday night owing to a shortage in her crew, sailed at noon on Saturday for Lyttelton, Wellington, and Wanganui, the extra man having been secured on Saturday morning. PALOONA TO LAY UP. MAORI TO REPLACE MARAROA. The local manager for tho Union Company (Air S. K. Sleigh) announced this afternoon that tho Paloona, after discharge of her Melbourne cargo, will lay up at Dunedin for a, few days. The vessel’s crew, or most of them, have been signed off, and no movo lias been mad© to replace them. Passengers who joined tho ship at Bluff on Saturday for .Melbourne will remain on board in tho meantime, and those passengers who joined at Melbourne for Lyttelton and Wellington will proceed north by to-morrow's express. Passengers booked locally 'by the Paloona for Melbourne will not join the ship in the meantime. They have been asked to keep in touch with tho company’s office for Information.

A telegram received by Mr Sleigh from Wellington states that tho turbine steamer Maori will replace the Mararoa in the ferry run from Wellington on Wednesday evening. Tho Mara.roa’s free labor crew will bo transferred to the Maori,