SHIFT ON OWN POWER

Evening Star, Issue 26030, 19 February 1947, Page 5

SHIFT ON OWN POWER

SEAMEN STAGE STRIKE,, STORMY PETREL FROM AUSTRALIA (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 18. At 3 o’clock this afternoon the Wangaiiella moved away from the Aotea Quay under her own power, while two tugs, the Toia and the Terawhiti, stood by. She was lined up with the floating dock, and lines were taken ashore to dolphines by the pilot boat. Then by the use'of the capstans on the dock, and her own winches she was edged into position in the dock. By 5 o’clock she was made fast fore and aft. She was still being kept afloat by air compressors in the Nos. 1 and 2 holds, but the fact that she was safe at last could be seen in the relief that appeared on the faces of all concerned.

“It was a magnificent feat ot seamanship,” said Captain G. McDonald, marine superintendent of Huddart, Parker Ltd. “ Captain D. M. Todd, the assistant harbour master, who piloted the vessel into the dock, has my greatest admiration. He accomplished the whole manoeuvre without the use of tugs, and no praise is too great for him.” officers Handle lines. But those on, shore watching the operation did not know of the drama that was being enacted as the ship pulled away from the wharf occasioned by a lightning strike of six A.B.s and three motormen, the only remaining seamen of the Wanganella’s crew on board. At I p.m., two hours

before the Wanganella was due to move, these men refused to handle the mooring lines. Captain McDonald was faced with a dilemma. The civilian labour on the ship could not be used, as they were in sympathy with the seamen, so it was decided that the mooring lines would be handled by the ship’s officers, members, of the engine room, and a few staff assistants from Huddart, Parker and Co.’s office. TUG WARNED OFF. The tug Toia pulled up alongside and threw a bow line on board, but after some harsh words had passed between Mr E. V. Elliott, federal secretary of the Seamen’s Union of Australia, and the tug’s crew, they cast off and withdrew. So with the seamen leaning over the rail of their deck on the poop, the mooring lines were cast off by the engineers, and the vessel 'move<f away from the wharf. Soon after the ship was made fast in the floating dock, the two > divers, Messrs J. Johnstone and D. Fitzgerald, went over the side to examine the lay of the keel. At 9 o’clock to-night, with the keel • resting on the keel blocks and wedges, the floating dock was raised the last few feet and the vessel came up clear of the water. When the rest of the crew was paid off last Friday and sent to Australia on the Wahine, the nine men who struck to-day volunteered to remain behind and work the ship. On the same day Mr Elliott arrived in New Zealand. “ I came over from Australia to get some compensation for . the wonderful job everyone agrees that these men have done,” said Mr Elliott. “ When the cooks and stewards struck and would not re- • turn to work on the ship they were given 5s per working hour above their pay. The tugboat men were given 7s Sd per working hour above their pay, and the

watersiders were given 17s 6d per hour for working in the holds after the seamen had prepared them. The only concession these men have gained so far is the 5s

per working hour above their pay that was given to the stewards.

“I contend that the sailors are entitled to a special rate for the 24 hours a day that they were on the ship, based on the adjustment made to the tugmen’s claim and the wharfies’ claim. These seamen did not take any direct action or hold up the work in any way, but have done all they could to help in salvaging the vessel. They have been working in constant danger, and even sleeping with their clothes and lifebelts on while the ship was on* the reef in case she went down. They were on a 24-hour duty at a minute’s call-up, and all they are given is 5s per working hour.”

One of the seamen said that when they, refused to handle the mooring lines Captain Darroch said they could pack their bags and go ashore. It meant that they were stranded. Captain McDonald said: “I gave the sailors a concession of 5s per work-

ing . hour above their pay, and when the rest of the crew were paid off last Friday they received this as from January 28. They seemed satisfied. Now Mr Elliott wants some other concessions. I do not know what they are, but anyhow the job is settled.’’ In places the bottom of the Wan-

ganella, revealed in dock, looked like a sheet of corrugated iron, and water and fuel oil streamed out of the vessel from practically every part of her forward plating. Her forefoot has been completely crushed as if it were silver paper. The anchor is embedded in the plating, and the whole is a mass of twisted steel and iron. This section oif the damage extends well back into No. 1 hold, where the whole keel and bottom plates have been pushed upwards and inwards. On the starboard side about 30ft

from the bow is a hole like a dent in a tin can. In the port side of No, 2 hold a section of the plating 20ft bv’ loft has been ripped open and forced up into the vessel. Further aft on the starboard side is a smaller hole. The whole of the bottom plates are bent and torn, and look like old scrap

iron. Viewed from the front, the whole how of the vessel gives the impression of having been twisted and forced over to one side.