SHIP HELD UP

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 February 1920, Page 7

SHIP HELD UP

FIREMEN DEMAND DISCHARGE. SEQUEL TO FIJI STRIKE. {Per Presa Association.) AUCKLAND, Feb. 5. Attempts were nude in Auckland to-day to prevent the , Tutanekai, which arrived from Wellington this morning, sailing for Fiji with military forces. 1 he trouble appeared early in the morning. The Tutanekai carried enough coal to make Fiji in the lane weather but it was desired to load another' 70 tons as. a. safeguard against a ■ hurricane, which may lie expected about this season. A , hulk therefore was brought alongside at 10 o’clock, but no labour was f forthcoming. [- The watersiders chief reason appar |j entlywas that the vessel was engaged I on a strike 'expedition to Fiji, where ! the Indians are out. j It was apparent from the remarks j -on the wharf that some of the water- j sider.s resented the proposal to take ’ 1 the coal from Auckland. | The authorities then decided that j the vessel sail without coal, 1 the time being fixed for 0 p.m. Shortly before that hour a. depu- | tation of firemen waited on Captain j

Post and demanded their discharges. I The-spokesman said that when they I bad signed on at Wellington, they i bad not been informed the- ship was | to carry soldiers to Fiji. | The firemen were informed they ! would have to abide- by articles. ‘ j Major Punick is in charge of Hie I soldiers for Fiji, He’ explained that j bis oruer,s, were to see- that the Hindoos did not destroy niiv life and property of Europeans. Asked whether the firemen wore n prepared ’to hamper the ship when Europeans in Fiji might be endangered the firemen retired. Volunteers were called from P amongst the soldiers to work in Lie stokehold. There appeared to- ne no difficulty in getting a team. The steamer remained at the wharf however. It transpired that the seamen were faced with, the difficulty > of serving with non-union firemen, 1/ They had not received permission v from the Union to do this. This permission was sought to be obtained. When the firemen left’ the ship, all of them were arrested. They were taken to the wharf police station. They' received assurance that the force was proceeding to Fiji for the sole purpose of protecting the Europeans. They then agreed to return to the ship. The Tutanekai is expected to sail at mid- , night. AUCKLAND, This Day. The Tutanekai left for Fiji at 12.10 this-morning.