IDLE STEAMERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20819, 11 March 1931, Page 12

IDLE STEAMERS.

UNION COMPANY VESSELS.

TOTAL OF TWENTY-ONE.

THOUSANDS LOST IN WAGES. The Union Company's passenger steamer Maheno, which reached Wellington from Melbourne on Monday evening, is making her last trip in the service for some months. Owing to the slackness of trade she will bo withdrawn when she reaches Dunedin on Friday. . The passenger service between New Zealand and Melbourne will be suspended and will be replaced by a three-weekly cargo service by the company's new steamer Wainui, which is to leave Auckland for Melbourne toward the end of this week.

Tho company's Sydney passenger service is also to be curtailed next week, the Maunganui being withdrawn when she arrives at Auckland from Sydney next Tuesday. The Maunganui will remain at Auckland until April 10, when she will resume in the Sydney service in place of tho Marama, which will bo withdrawn at Wellington on April 6. Tho laying-up of the Maheno and the Maunganui will make a total of 21 steamers controlled by the Union Company rendored idle owing to tho trade depression. The list of idle ships includes intercolonial steamers, coastal vessels and a transpacific cargo steamer. Seven will bo in port at Auckland, two at Sydney, five at Wellington and threo at Port Chalmers. Several of tho vessels have beon laid up for months and the loss of wages to tho crows thrown out of employment amounts to many thousands of pounds. If tho 21 idle steamers were in commission they would bo manned by a total of 928 persons. If tho crews wore all rated as firemen and sailors the combined wages paid on tho 21 steamers would total about £16,000 a month. A large number, such as tho masters, officers and engineers, are paid at highor ratos than the seamen and firemen, and this would mako tho total monthly wage for the fleet nearer £20,000.