THE TIE-UP

Evening Star, Issue 18136, 28 November 1922, Page 9

THE TIE-UP

RUMOR THAT OFFICERS WILL SIGH OFF. A DENIAL IN DUNEDIN. [Peb United Psesd Association.'} CHRISTCHURCH, November 27, 111 was freely rumored) this morning <bat the officers on most of the vessels had signified thoir intention of giving notice to sign off, probably on account of the suspension of the Shipping and Seamen Act, but no official confirmation of such mi action has been received by representatives of the shipping companies. GISBORNE WATERSIDEK3 RESUME. GISBORNE, November 27. After a week of idleness tbe waterside wickers are to resume to-morrow. The trouble started last Monday week, when the waterside workers refrained from offering to work two coastal boats, although they went on working a Homo liner. A meeting of business men and ship owners was held that afternoon, and decided to keep the port open and Called for free labor. A willing response was made, and for one week free labor has worked tho vessels while tho waterside workers looked on. This morning Mr W. D. Lysnax, in the role of mediator, -brought the parties together, with, the result that a decision was reached to dispense with free labor, and the unionists will now work all boats. THE TERRY. WELLINGTON, November 27. The Maxaroa, which, sailed for Lyttelton at 5 p.m., took 440 passengers—a Ml complement. Some were left behind. The Maori sails for Lvtielton on Wednesday evening, and 1 tho Mararoa, on her arrival at Wellington on ’Wednesday morning, withdraws from the service. AT OTHER PORTS. LYTTELTON, November 27. The Waihemo, with a union orew, arrived hers this morning from New Plymouth. With the exception of three, she has an Australian crew on board, and it is not anticipated that any of the men will sign off. AUCKLAND, November 27. The Northern Company to-day obtained crows for three vessels—the Ngapnhi, Mantua, and Rimu—all its vessels being now manned. The Matiala sailed to-night far Whangarei, and the others sail for their destinations to-mon'ow. Tho Union Company’s Arahura sails to-morrow for Gisborne and Napier. The company has suspended engaging labor, in view of am expected early settlement. AMENITIES AT BLUFF. Bluff wharf was the scene of a heated exchange of language on Friday evening (says the ‘ Southland Times ’), when some members of the crew taunted! the crew of the Karori, a coastal cargo boat in tbe next berth, with terms that are anathema to all good unionists, such as “scabs” and “blacklegs.” Matters would probably have proceeded a stage further, but the presence of a policeman exercised a restraining influence upon the wranglers, and a quiet night _ resulted, the Paloona's men storing up their energy and expressions of contempt for a more pronitious occasion. The chance for continuing the campaign, safe at any rate from retaliation, came on Saturday evening, when the Karori was casting off from the berth. The seamen tending the latter’s stern lines were subjected to a withering fire, of a wordy contempt, lent force by the use of a large number of potatoes; and by the time the local police arrived and quietened the disturbers several minor injuries had been inflicted. IN AUSTRALIA. MORE VESSELS DETAINED. SYDNEY, November 28. (Received November 28, at 11 a.m.) At a late hour last night tie Koranui and Kokiri were unable to sail owing to members of the respective crews absenting themselves. Twenty-four hours’ notice was given by tho remainder of the crews. Both vessels were destined for Newcastle. It is -explained that tho holdup is part of tho seamen’s policy to boycott the Union Company’s steamers till the strike in New Zealand is declared off, or until the strikers in. Long Bay prison are unconditionally released. NO APPRECIABLE CHANGE. PALOONA STILL HELD UP. KATOA AND KUROW SAIL. There is very little to chronicle to-day as regards tho shipping hold-up at Dunedin. The inter-state steamer Paloona is still at the Birch street wharf, and nothing definite has been decided os to her future movements. There are no sailors, firemen, or trimmers on board, but the officers, engineers, and stewards are standing by the ship. The watersiders completed discharging the local portion of the Paloona’s cargo this morning, arid there was, consequently, very little activity on board for the rest of tho day. A well-known master of one of the Union Company’s steamers drew a reporter’s attention to a paragraph telegraphed from Christchurch to the effect that rumors were current that some officers were becoming uneasy in consequence of the suspension of the Shipping and Seamen Act. He said that tnero was absolutely no truth in the rumor, and that the officers and engineers were as loyal as they were during the 1913 strike. He had visited Auckland, Wellington, and Lyttelton since the commencement of the present trouble, had conversed with many officer# and engineers, and had not seen one sign of uneasiness on any ship. There were probably a few discontented ones, but these were to be found in any walk of life. His officers were quite satisfied with the way things were ' going, and were treating the hold-up more as a joke than anything else. Another well-known master and an official of the Union Company stated that there was absolutely no manifestation of uneasiness ox discontent amongst any of the officers and engineers as Far as Dunedin was concerned. The official hail visited every Union boat which had arrived here from the time of the commencement of the dispute, and had found no discontent whatever amongst the officers and engineers. Several vessels moved inwards and outwards yesterday and to-day. The Katea sailed last night for Wellington and Auckland. the Rama arrived last evening from Wellington, and the Calm reached port thi# afternoon. froiry-BlulT. -The Kurow completed discharging her cargo from Auckland at 10 a.m. to-day, and roiled shortly before noon for Bluff and West iW " THE KUROW’S GREW. Captain Flynn, master of the Union Company’s cargo steamer Kurow, which arrived at Dunedin on Sunday afternoon from Auckland via Wellington and Lyttelton, is very proud of his non-union crew. Ho informed a ‘ Star ’ reporter that idmost every man belongs to Auckland. Many of them are yachtsmen and motor boat owners, and others are ex-naval men. With few exceptions every man on deck is capable of taking a trick at the wheel. "Most of them,” said Captain Flynn, “ can steer as well as the old hands. We have one man who could not steer, but after a little tuition ho proved a worthy hand. I asked him if he could steer, an dhs answered, ‘NM sir.’ ‘ Can you drive a motor car? ‘Yes. sir, I can, as I own a mote rear.’ ‘Well, if you can, drive a motor oar you can steer this food ship.’ We had not been long at sea eforo he was steering equal to the host of them.”