THE HINEMOA SAILS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20363, 18 September 1929, Page 10

THE HINEMOA SAILS.

A VOLUNTEER CREW.

DISPUTE WITH THE UNION.

NO SETTLEMENT REACHED.

The steamer Hinemoa, which has been delayed at Auckland owing to a dispute regarding the manning of the vessel, sailed for Bluff, via Westport, early this morning with a volunteer crew. The dispute was between the Seamen's Union and the owners of the Hinemoa regarding the number of firemen to be carried and the rate of pay for seamen for the trip. A further conference yestcrday morning between the secretary of the union and the representative of Spedding, Limited, the local agents of the vessel, was abortive. The union's demand was that the steamer should carry six firemen and the rate of pay for tho seamen should be £1 a day during the trip to Bluff. The agent for the vessel contended that the manning scale for a steamer of the Hine--moa's tonnage was only three firemc-n, and that the rate of pay for the seamen should bo only 25 pn cent, above the award rate, as is certified in the agreement between tho Seamen's Union and the Shipowners' Federation. Owing to the Seamen's Union refusing to moderate its terms, the agents of the Hinemoa made arrangements later in the day to man the vessel with volunteer labour, which appeared to be plentiful. The volunteers joined the vessel last night, but •a delay occurred until sufficient steam could be raised in tho boilers. It was nearly one o'clock this morning when the vessel was finally ready for sea, and she left for Westport and Bluff shortly afterwards.