RESTORING SERVICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18249, 16 November 1922, Page 8

RESTORING SERVICES.

LABOTttt OFFERS FREELY. Nj v QBE SHIPS BEING MANNED. • MEN TIRING OF STRIKE. GENERAL ACTIVITY IN WEEK Tax TM.EOBAPH. —OWN, CORttESPONDKNT-1 WELLINGTON. Wednesday. The events of the last day or two have mado 'It" clear that under present conditions tho shipping companies can restore tho various services. Men are offering for work in Wellington and the other centres in. numbers largo enough to make possible the manning of additional ships each day, and ifi the process continues most of tho services will bo restored next week. " We ate getting an exceedingly gratifying response to tho call for men," stated Mr. T. 0. Bishop, secretary of the New Zealand? Shipowners' Federation, today. "There is not the slightest doubt that before the end of the week we shall have more- than enough men to mau all the ships. Reports from other ports indicate that the position is also satisfactory in other parts of the Dominion." The men volunteering to prevent tho chipping trade of the country from being paralysed are stated to be of excellent type. They include a fair sprinkling of experienced seamen and firemen. The fact that properly qualified seafarers are signing on for service on the ships is believed in some quarters to indicate that many of the men are tiring of the hold-up, and aro anxious to get bade to work again.

A meeting of seamen was held this morning, but Mr. W. T. Young, the secretary of the Seamen's Union, stated afterwards that he had nothing to say, READY FOR DEPARTURE. VESSELS AT LYTTELTON. OTHFiIS TO LOAD TO-DAY. [BX TEHEGBA.PH. —FBES3 ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday. With the ready response of free labour to the shipowners' advertisement, the prospects of clearing Lyttelton of idle boats is now much brighter. Soveral of the t'nion Steam Ship Company's steamers, which were laid up, got up steam to-day, in preparation for a move. The Cygnet, Wakatu and Wanaka will commence loading to-morrow. The Katos r Wingatui, and Kamona, are in the stream to-night, ready for departure. .OUTLET FOR NELSON." 3 NIKAU'S REGULAR RUNNING. OTHER SHIPS GOING TO SEA. [BS /EELEOaAPH.—•PBESS ASSOCIATION.} WELLINGTON. Wednesday. The Nikau arrived from Nelson, with nearly 30 tons of perishable goods, including 53 crates of strawberries, eggs, batter* malt, tomatoes, and green peas. The Nikau left Wellington for Nelson again to-night, taking 45 passengers, the Marine Department granting a permit for tho vessel to carry 16 passengers in excess of her usual complement. Substantial quantities of sugar have arrived in Wellington by rail from Ancfci land, and no shortage is likely in Una commodity. The Union Steam Ship Company stated that, the KaHka would sail to-night when the crew was completed which was being got together. The boat would* be manned by free labour, and would carry pas-, sengei* and. cargo for New Plymouth. The Wainui is to sail to-morrow for Picton at two o'clock. She has had steam up for the last two days. The Sfararoa is to continue her run on )he terry service as usual.

THE MOSQUITO FLEET. LESS DIFFICULT TO MAN. NORMAL RUNNING SHORTLY. [BX TELJSORAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION ] . . WELLINGTON. Wednesday. The position of th© mosquito fleet was referred to to-day by a local shipping man, who Btated that as far as he could see there was no-reason why the small fleet should not be back to its normal running within a short time. The position of the mosquito fleet was somewhat different from that of the larger regular coastal tradErsv as tho, number of seamen carried on tie smaller ships was only one or two, whereas the crew of the larger type of coaster numbered a dozen or more. Under the schedule of the Shipping and Seamen Act, 1908, it was laid down that steamers of 100 to 260 horse-power were required to carry only two firemen. Vessels between these limits ofi horse-power trading around Wellington included such steamers as the Wakatu, Kapanui, Wootton, Eowera, and Cygnet, and should labour offer, he said, it was quite reasonable to expect vessels of that class to be in commission again shortly. GISBOENE AND NAPIER, SEA CONNECTION MADE. VOLUNTEERS WORK STEAMER [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] GISBORNE. WedTtesday. Endeavours are being made to secure another orow for the small steamer Baden Powell engaged in the carriage of shingle between Gishome and Napier for road and bridge work, the cessation of whose running would throw 30 or 40 men out of work. It is expected that the vessel will resume her running in the course of a day or two. This steamer has hitherto helped to maintain the mail communications of this district The situation in respect to the dislocation of the passenger traffic to and from Oisborne by steamer will bo relieved to some extent by the Richardson Steamship Company's Tangaroa, which arrived here this afternoon from Napier with passengers and mails, being manned with free labour,, comprising men out of the office at Napier, who are all enthusiastic and in good 'fettle. The Tangaroa has a license to carry 100 passengers. She is leaving again to-morrow morning lor Nanier with passengers. It is intended to keep the Tangaroa in the service, making two trips a week to Napier if posGisborne is not threatened with an immediate shortage of supplies. Flour is nrobably the principal commodity for Supplies Of which sea transport is essential but it is estimated that there is sufficient floor in the town to last about a month. There was still a good quantity £ band when the Kimi arrived yesterday from the South with, a supplementary supply, and no anxiety is felt concerning that important commodity. Of next importance is sugar which has •to come by sea from Auckland At present there are good supplies on hand and while the Tirol continues running there should be »o difficulty about obtaining Bo ?f r i-i *w« TTfitf arrived there was a j£& o £hern m P otatoes but th, vSl's shipment was a fairly large one S South' is not bo urgent: as the local new-potatoes are Zi r Sing available- An ample sup. ply of benzine J* » P"> r< V