SHIPPING TROUBLE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 22 November 1922, Page 5

SHIPPING TROUBLE

SUSPENSION OK AIT RESENTED BY UNIONS (United Press Association) WELLINGTON. Nov. 21. Them is strong feeding among the maritime unions because the Government has suspended the Shipping and Seamen’s Act. To-day the Executive Council of the federated Cooks and Stewards sent a telegram to Mr Masshy, which alleged that the shipping companies’ demand for guarantees was illegal, and that an organisation which remained neutral up to now fears that it will bo drawn into the dispute against its wishes, ami therefore respectfully urges Mr Massey to remove the suspension of the A<n because at present, with inexperienced mou cn gaged on the snips, the lives of all the crew are endangered. GREYMOUTH, Nov. 21. Tho Progress arrived from Lyttelton to-day. The crew’s articles have c.\ pired, and the men are not signing on meanwhile. An early settlement is expected. NO COMMUNICATION FROM SEAMEN’S UNION WELLINGTON, This Dav. The Shipowners’ Federation has not received any" communication from the Seamen’s Union regarding the shipping trouble. Free labour is still being engaged, and will continue to bo used whore'required to man ships, while the position remains as it is. The Holmdalo’s crew yesterday gave notice, and a now crew is being engaged, and the steamer is expected to continue her voyage from Wanganui to Southern ports this evening. FLEE LABOUR ON GISBORNE WATERFRONT GISBORNE, This Day. Work on the waterfront is proceeding slowly. Free labour was employed in loading the steamer Awahau. A number of men came in from the country today and with town volunteers an abundance of free labour is available. IN AUSTRALIA | (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) ! (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) 1 SYDNEY, Nov. 21. | Some significance is attached to the ' fact that the Kittawa’s crew is on the : Australian articles, j It is proposed to sign on the Makura’s crews to-morrow. Should a crew not be obtainable the Makura will miss a trip and bo rendered idle | for a couple of months, j The secretary of the Seamen’s' Union states that to-day be received , a cable from New Zealand giving quite j a different version of how the strike is 1 progressing compared with the cables appearing in the Sydney press. The Union Company’s Whangapc, which should have proceeded to Newcastle last night, was hung up, as two members of the crow absented them-! selves and the remainder refused to take the vessel to sea short-handed. The Whangapo has been taken into the stream to await developments. .■ Tlie first hitch in the company's Tasmanian run occurred to-day, when the crews of the Kittawa gave notice, and sufficient men failed to offer them- j selves when a new crew was called for. It is understood the Kittawa will be laid up at Newcastle. At Court twenty-two members of the crew of the Kororniko were found guilty, on a charge of disobedience of orders and sentenced to twenty-eight days’ imprisonment. In view of these developments the | strike outlook is regarded ms less favourable. MELBOURNE. Nov. 21. The expectation that the Uauraki would get away to-day was not realised. The crow declined to sail, demanding payment at the old award rates till their articles expire in December. DISTINCT BREACH OF FAITH SYDNEY, This Day. The seamen on the Commonwealth steamer Boonah refused to sign on in I consequence of certain claims being refused last May. The refusal is a distinct breach of faith, as assurances wore given in July that the Commonwealth would not he subjected to irritation strikes. ARRIVAL OMSOROHATION A WEEK ON VOYAGE FROM WELLINGTON GALES AND ENGINE TROUBLE VESSEL BERTHED AMIDST CHEERS The grave fears that had existed in Nelson concerning the safety of the auxiliary ketch Coronation, which had left Wellington on the 14th Inst, for Nelson, and was overdue, were allayed yesterday morning by the message from the Postmaster at Blenheim that the vessel had been sighted in the Straits by a fisherman on Monday night, heading for Nelson. Shortly before 7 o’clock last evening it was rumoured that tire , Coronation was coining up the bay, and this was confirmed when it was known that the Harbourmaster (Captain Collins) had gone out in the Board’s launch to meet her. At a quarter to eight tho vessel’s lights were visible to the crowd that had assembled on the wharf, am! at 8.30 the Coronation came alongside the wharf amidst cheers, and hearty congratulations were extended to Captain Barr and his crew. The following is a brief account of the stormy passage of seven days:— Left Wellington at 11.30 p.m. on 14th in calm weather; at 4 a.m. on the 15th a N.W. breeze sprang up, which increased to a gale at 10 a.m., accompanied by a heavy sea. The vessel was put under close-reefed sail . The gale continued Friday afternoon, and carried tho vessel eight miles south of Capo Campbell. A dead calm then set in and lasted until Saturday afternoon at 4 o’clock) when fresh N.W. winds were experienced. These increased to a gale at 10 p.m., and tho vessel was again put under close-rccfed canvas. Tho gale continued until 2 o’clock on Monday morning, when the weather moderated, and Jater veered to the South. 'Die vessel was then put on her course and came througli the Straits in lino weather. The voyage was protracted by engine f rouble, which developed shortly after leaving Wellington, and continued more or less throughout the trip. The'Coronation brought a heavy mail and 50 tons of general cargo. Captain Ivan Barr, formerly of the Union Company,, is in charge of Ihe Coronation, Mr N. Tremcwan m Lie engineer, 1 and the crew consists of J. Readon (leading A. 8.), T. Keegan (A.IF), and J, Ryan (ordinary seaman). ' There was no lack of provicions on hoard, the only commodity that had run out being tobacco, Tho Coronation, which is a wooden vessel of 95 tons, is owned by the Government, and was previously cn-

gaged in running timber between Westhaven and Wellington, but has latterly teen laid up. During the shipping liold--lup she was put into commission again to run cargo between Wellington, and i was making her first trip. | By the courtesy of Mr Joe. Stewart, of the Customhouse Hotel, the Telegraph Office was rung up just before 8.30 and telegrams were despatched to the Wellington morning papers announcing the safe arrival of the Coronation in port. The news of the safe arrival of the Coronation was announced in the Empire Theatre last evening, and the welcome tidings were received with loud cheers by the crowded audience. The Rotornahana in 1879, then a brand new boat, made the run from Wellington In Nelson in six hours 10 minutes. The Coronation’s time was 6 days 17 hours!