SHIPPING HOLB-UP

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 13 November 1922, Page 4

SHIPPING HOLB-UP

BULK OFGOASTAL VESSELS IDLE

ATTITUDE OK EMPLOYERS

COUUT AWAHI) .MUST HE VINDICATED

(liiite.i i'l'tiM .iwiuiiuilon

WELLINGTON, Nov. 11

The derision of the seamen to cease, work as a protest against the award of the Arbitration Court, which recently readjusted wages, tame into operation here this morning. The position now is that the hulk of the coastal shipping is idle, including the Lytteiton ferry steamer, as neither the Maori nor Wahinc sail to-night. The only boat on which "Blue Peter" was flying to-day was the Anchor Company's Ngaio which sails for Nelson to-night* and will be laid up there.

Officials of the Federated Seamen's Union declared that they had no statement to make to (lav.

The opinion in shipping circles is that if anything in the nature of an "irritation strike" is attempted by the men working one week and striking the nest, effective means will be taken to bring it*to an end.

Up to tl|e present the shipowners have not met to consider the latest developments, but a meeting of the Shipowners' Federation will be held on Monday to decide, what action should he taken. i So far there is no indication of the trouble spreading to other bodies, but the stoppage of shipping must detrimentally affect other classes of labour.

Shipping circles ionic to the Government to see that the award of ilio Court is vindicated.

COMMENT BY THE I'HEMIKIt

WELLINGTON, This Day.

Mr Massey, interviewed regarding the strike on his return to Wellington, said he eonld lwirdly express an opinion now, but could only- hope the deadlock would not last long. r l lie Government had made arrangements for the carriage of mails, and if the strike went on it would do its best to prevent any more hardship and inconvenience to the public than can possibly be avoided.

NAPIER STEAMERS TO BE LAID UP

NAPIER, Nov. 11

The crews of the coastal steamers Fanny, Tearoha, Rum and Koau gave notice to-day and will be paid off on Monday. The action taken is not popular with seamen, who are apparently acting according to instructions.

CARRIAGE OF MAILS

CHRISTCHURCH. Nov. 11

It is officially announced that the Wakatu will carry mails to Wellington, to-i night, and mails from Wellington will be landed in Picton to-night' and motored South.

MANY SEAMEN AGAINST STRIKE

EFFECT ON GENERAL ELECTION

(By Telegraph.—Special to The Mail.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 11

While it is extremely difficult* to obtain iny information from seamen and firemen affected by the hold-up at Lyttelton, there are good grounds for believing the seamen, apart from the firemen, are not united in the matter. Many of the men have been forced into the strike against their own wishes, but having been drawn into it are quite ready to stand by the other men. However, there are a number of married men particularly who are not in entire sympathy with the strike. There was an impression in Lytteltoi. this morning that the strike might not last long, as a number of the men are inclined to think it is a mistake to hold- up shipping at a time so near the general election. Those of the strikers who desire that the labour vote shall not be affected at the general election realise that a mistake lias been made in precipitating the trouble at the present time. They consider it would have been wiser to have continued working under protest until after the election in order that the prospects of the Labour candidates should not be prejudiced. It is still possible that this view of the matter will be taken by the men and that <he boats may be running again within a week.

ALMOST EVERY STEAMER TltD OP

ARRANGEMENTS FOR MAILS

BETWEEN THE TWO ISLANDS

tUnited Press Association)

WELLINGTON, This Day. The coastal shipping trade of New Zealand is practically at a standstill for almost every steamer engaged m :t is now tied up. The notice given by the seamen on some of the httats has been made general. Ocean going steamers not- on the New Zealand articles are not affected directly, though the indirect results for them may be serious owing to Hie delay involved in waiting for transhipment of cargo.

Arrangements have been made to ensure the regular carriage of mails between the two Islands. The launch Admiral from Picton will arrive here to-day and return on Tuesday. By utilising this fast craft, which can cross the Strait quicker than most steamers on the run, connection with, Blenheim, Nelson,*" and West Coast can be maintained indefinitely.

DISPUTE DEVELOPING

MARAPyOA TO SAIL THIS AFTERNOON WELLINGTON, This, Day. Tho shipping dispute is developing. The Union Company advertises the MaI raroa to sail for Lyitelton at 4 o'clock. Captain Irwin will be in charge of the vessel. It is understood a call will be made for hands to .work the vessel. TRIP TO CHATHAMS ABANDONED DUNEDDJ, Tliis Day. | The Kamo's crew were paid off this < morning and *thc ship's trip to the Chathams abandoned. j The Waikouaiti's crew were also paid off and it is understood _ the Kaltoke's deck hands will be paid off. I PRESBYTERIAN DELEGATES HELD 1 UP CHPISTCHURCH, This. Day. Lord and Lady Jellicoe are returning to Wellington to-morrow night by the Chatham. Most of the Southern delegates to the Presbyterian Assembly, which opens at Auckland' on Wednesday, are held up,]

but, it is unlikely that Hie Assembly, will be postponed. Upwards of fifty horses brought from the North Island for the recent race meetings are still held up. The crews of the Katoa, Kaikorai, and Wingatui were paid off this morning. The stewards of the Waliine will be paid off at 2 p.m.

MEETING OF OFFICERS' GUILD

TAKING NO SIDE"

WELLINGTON, This Day. .A fter a meeting of the Merchant Service .Guild this morning the secretary declared" that he had no announcement to make; but it is understood the Guild will take sides neither with the Seamen's Union nor the shipowners, and will carry out the terms of its award to the letter.

COMING OVERLAND CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Three cars and a, char-a-banc left Christchurch at 9 a.m. loaded with passengers for the North who hope to get across from Picton. A. mail left by car at 10 a.m. to connect with the launch Admiral. The position at Lyttelton is unchanged. The Kamona arrived to coal the Chatham but the men have given notice, and if new men cannot be got she will be held up. The Progress for, Nelsou and Greymouth, and the Storm for Picton and Wangamii. will sail today.

INTEIHSLAND MAIL SERVICE

TO T!E MAINTAINED

DEPARTMENT'S ADVICE: "POST LETTERS."

WELLINGTON, This Day

The mail service between the North and South Island is to be maintained, despite the trouble with (he seamen and firemen. The Mararoawill sail at 4 o'clock with mails for Lyttelton and will be followed at 8 o'clock by the Wakatu with the balance of the. mails.

The Postal Department was not certain this afternoon whether',, a boat would come up from Lyttelton with mailg to-night, but the Chatha mwill leave there for Wellington to-morrow.

Mail connection with Picton and Nelson will be maintained by the Admiral, which will leave Picton for Wellington to-morrow morning and return in the evening. The Department hopes that after Wednesday it will be able to arrange for a steady service to be maintained between Lyttelton and Welling ton bv H.M.S. Veronica and the Tutanekai. "The latter left Bluff /or Lyttelton to-day. - ;

The advice of the Department to the public is to post letters and trust to the Department to maintain the service. '■-,

IN AUSTRALIA TUGS REFUSE-TO HANDLE ORMONDE

(By Electric -'Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.}

FREMANTLE, Nov. 11

The Ormonde has not entered the harbour in consequence of the crews of the tugs refusing to handle the vessel as a protest against her carrying inter-state passengers without paying Australian rates to the crew.

SYDNEY, Nov. 11. There are no further developments in the shipping.

SYDNEY, Nov. 12. i The sailing of the Moeraki has been cancelled. The passengers' luggage and' perishable cargo was transferred fron Neutral, v Bay iri ferries to the shore. The mails are still on the' steamer in expectation that the dispute will soon be settled, otherwise they will be transferred to the Ulimaroa, which was expected to sail for New Zealand on Saturday. As the crew of the. latter are on the Australian articles no trouble is anticipated. Thirty-one members of the crew of the aWikawa were arrested and charge ed with refusing duty. They will appear at the Court on Monday.

POSITION.!)! WILSON The Alexander's seamen gave notice coming up from the West Coast- and the period having expired,the vessel to-day joined the idle fleet at Port Nelson. * The Union Steamship Ooiiipitiriy'A collier Ngajsuta will call at the outer anchorage, Nelson, for mails early tomorrow morning. The postal depart- 4 ment notify" that the mail will close at 8 p.m. this evening. THE OVERHAND ROUTE The Ngaio, which arrived from, Wellington yesterday morning, brought.a number of passengers for Blenheim, West Coast and the South, who proceeded to their respective destinations by motor car. Four special cars left Newman's garage, one for Blenheim, two for the West Coast,, arid the other for Christchurch.

ACTION BY MR H. ATMORE, M.P.

Mr 11. Atmore, M.P., has 'sent the following further telegram to the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. ■W. F. Massey:?- ' 'Kindly advise me whether you can maintain service, between,,,Nel«on and "Wellington by using Tutanekai or Hiriemoa. Inconvenience and great loss will result to people if service held up. Fruit season now on. No strike or lock out be'* allowed to interfere with people's rights to free commercial intercourse and passenger carriage."

MR MASSEY REPLIES TO MR, ATMORE Mr H. Atmove, M.P., has received the following reply from the Prime Minister to the telegram he sent on Saturday: Your telegram received. I have arrangements now in hand and will do my best to maintain cargo service between Wellington and Nelson! Further particulars will be available in a day or two."

ACTION BY CHAMBER OF

COMMERCE

AUXILIARY SCHOONER TO RUN

In view of the serious position of* producers of peas, strawberries and other perishable goods, also dairy produce, Mr A. Gilbert (President of the Chamber of Commerce) communicated with Messrs Tasker and Levien to see if it were _ possible for them to plate one of f their vessels on the Wellington run. The firm agreed to do so provided a satisfactory quantity of cargo is offering and expect to despatch the Kohi at 2 p.m. to-morrow." It is also hoped the vessel will bring back good supplies from Wellington to remove the menace to householders.

STRAWBERRY GROWERS PLIGHT

The strawberry and cherry growers cf Lower Moutere* have written, to the Anchor Company, requesting it' to take immediate steps' to get one of its boats manned and recommence the cross Strait service. They expect to have very large quantities of this most.perishable produce to ship during this f yreel!., as their crops are just ripening, it. is imperative that they 'h&- provided with some means of getting the fruit to market.