SHIPPING HOLD-UP

Northern Advocate, 27 July 1934, Page 8

SHIPPING HOLD-UP

FIVE VESSELS INVOLVED i DISPUTE OVER AGREEMENT. SEAMEN HOLD MEETINGS. WATERSIDERS NOT CONCERNED. (Per Press Association.—Copyright.) DUNEDIN, This Day. For the first time in several years there was a general hold-up of shipping at Dunedin yesterday. The crews of all vessels in port were involved. The dispute concerns the conditions oi a new seamen’s agreement, the old agreement having expired on May'3l. It is understood the crows arc not prepared to accept the conditions of a proposed new agreement, and that the men are demanding restoration of the wage cut. Five vessels wore affected up till 7 o’eloek last night. They were the Wairuna, Waipiata, Totara, Storm, and Parera. All those boats wore listed to sail yesterday for various ports, but all are still at the wharves. The Wairuna finished unloading cargo from Vancouver on Wednesday evening, and was scheduled to sail at daybreak yesterday for Melbourne and Sydney. The Waipiata, which arrived on Wednesday morning from Auckland and East Coast ports, discharged a. large cargo, the watersiders working until a late hour on Wednesday night. She was ready to sail at II p.m. for Bluff. The "Waipiata. is carrying, among other cargo, consignments of sugar for Bluff and Timaru. The Totara came to Dunedin yesterday morning from Port Chalmers and loaded for Wellington, Nelson, New Plyouth and Westport. The Canterbury, Company’s coaster Storm arrived yesterday morning from Bluff, and after loading was ready to sail last evening for Wellington, Wanganui and New Plymouth, via ports. The Parera, which is under charter to Holm and Company, discharged and loaded general freight and was ready to sail last night for Bluff. The motor vessel Port Whangarei arrived last night from Auckland and East Coast ports, and her crew will probably be involved in the dispute. The Gale is due today from Wellington, and she also will be involved. The crews of the five vessels in port held a meeting yesterday on the waterfront in the morning and another meeting in the afternoon. After a fairly lengthy session the afternoon meeting was a'djourned until 3 p.m. today. The waterside workers are not involved in the dispute, and all vessels arriving will be worked.