SHIPPING DISPUTE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 210, 4 August 1934, Page 9

SHIPPING DISPUTE

SUMMONSES AT GREYMOUTH. DEATH OFSEAMAN. Per Press Association. GREYMOUTH, Aug. 3. Five steamers have been held up here by the seamen’s dispute since Tuesday—the Union Company’s Kaimai, Kaimiro and Poolta, and the Anchor Company’s Rata and Titoki. The liokl-up is due to seamen refusing to put to sea, although possibly the condition of the bar might have prevented at least some saTiing, the depth at high tide now being only 20£ feet. The only change in the local position is that the crews of three Union vessels numbering about 50 to-day received summonses to appear in Court to-morrow morning to answer charges of disobeying the master’s lawful commands to take the ships to sea. The Anchor Company’s crews expect similar action. A member of the Kaimai’s crew, Mr John Johnson, aged 45, died to-night at the hospital. He was carried ashore on the day of the vessel’s arrival last Friday. The seamen state that they intend to seek an inquiry regarding the circumstances leading to his death. They declare that lie arrived here suffering from acute pleurisy after having been passed as fit for duty at Westport and later at Auckland, when he had obtained permission in each instance for examination by doctors. Deceased had to lay up shortly after the Knimai’s departure from Auckland for Greymoutli.