CREW LEAVE STEAMER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15554, 11 March 1914, Page 10

CREW LEAVE STEAMER

INCIDENT ON NAVUA.

NECESSARY NOTICE GIVEN. A little dissatisfaction amongst the crew of the Union Company's Island steamer Navua, while the vessel was at Suva last week, ended in the majority of the men leaving the ship on her arrival at Auckland yesterday morning. According to the statements made on board the firemen waited upon the captain on the ship's arrival at Suva from Levuka, and demanded payment of their wages, under a section of their agreement with the Union Company, which reads: "All wages, including overtime, shall be paid on tho first day of each calendar month, or within seven days thereafter, or as soon after the seven days as the vessel arrive* at any port where there is a branch 'cl any bank." The captain considered that this clause of tho agreement did not entitle the men to make such a demand, and informed them that their wages would be paid or. the following day. The men eventual! agreed to this arrangement, and the Navua left Suva at 8 p.m. on Thursday last. On the following day their wagei were paid while the vessel was at sea. 1( then appeared that the men were satisfied but when within one day's steam cl Auckland, with very few exceptions, the whole of the crew of firemen, sailors, anc several stewards gave the regulation 2/hours' notice. When the Navua berthec at the Northern Wharf yesterday morn ing the me a left the ship in a body wit! their belongings. The Union Company's officials at onct set about procuring a fresh crew, and ai no great difficulty was experienced ir securing a hill complement of qualifier: men the vessel was able to sail last nighl for Wellington as scheduled. It ii stated that the men's demand to be paic their wages at an Island port was unusual, as on the vessel's rotum here thf men would have received the month'i wages due to them. No disorder at tended the incident, and there was nc trouble on the trip to Auckland.