COASTAL SHIPPING DELAYS

Evening Star, Issue 21786, 31 July 1934, Page 11

COASTAL SHIPPING DELAYS

HOLD-UPS At LYTTELTOH AND GREYMOUTH SEAMEN AND FIREMEN REFUSE TO SAIL [Bek Unitzd Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, July 30. Six coastal vessels were held up at Lyttelton to-day by the- seamen .and firemen refusing to sail. A special meeting of the Seamen’s Union was held at .Lyttelton this morning. The meeting lasted two hours, and it was announced, that another meeting would be held in. the afternoon. The second meeting lasted from 3 o’clock till 4.20 o'clock, when it was announced that the meeting had been adjourned till to-morrow morning and that in the meantime -all. vessels, in,; port, with, the exception of the interisland steamer Maori, would be held up, as the crews would refuse to take them to sea.'

The vessels held up are the Taupata for Timaru, the Storm for Wellington, the Pukeko for Waikokopu and other east cOast ports of the‘North Island; the Port Whangarei for Wellington, the Kapiti for Wanganui, and-the Totara. for New Plymouth. It is stated that unless other ports are affected the vessels at Lyttelton may sail to- norrow.

PARTIAL SETTLEMENT.

GREYMOUTH, July 30.: . The port to-day presented an unusual appearance, eight steamers lying idle, an increase of three on the previous day. The crews of five vessels at a meeting this afternoon. passed a resolution in favour of continuing the strike. The Kaxmiro’s Crew this morning refused a call, to take the. vessel away. The steamer John, of the WesternShipping Company, however, ceased this afternoon to-be affected by the dispute; the crew receiving from the own-, ers an intimation that the full demands of the men had been conceded—namely, the restoration of all wage cuts, the return of the overtime rate to 2s 9d per hour from 2s 2d an hour in each department, and improvements in the working conditions to the standard of the old 1930 agreement, which the seamen generally are all seeking. The changes in the rates are; Ordinary seanien Over 18 years from £9 10s 4d to £lO 9s, Under 18 from £8 Is to £9 4s, “ Peggy ” £9 10s 4d to £lO 17s 4d, A.B. £l3 3s 6d to £l4 4s, bo’sun £l4 3s 6d tq £l6 4s, firemen and oilers £l4 3s 6d to £l7 4s, and donkeymen £l6 3s 6d to £lB 4s. The new agreement was signed afioard the John this afternoon, and the. vessel was due to sail to-night. ■. The other vessels affected by the strike aye the Poolta, the Kaimai, the Rata, and the Titoki. There are two others here which are not affected, the Kalihgo and the Kakariki, On Australian articled.