MAIL STEAMER HELD UP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21112, 20 February 1932, Page 8

MAIL STEAMER HELD UP.

MARAMA FOR. SYDNEY. VESSEL DECLARED "BLACK." CREW VACANCY NOT FILLED. MISUNDERSTANDING ON WHARF. Owing to unemployed seamen in Auckland declaring the Union Company's passenger steamer Marama "black" the vessel was unable to sail for Sydney yesterday afternoon and her departure was postponed until eight o'clock this morning. At sailing time, three o'clock, there were 170 passengers on the Marama, which carried mail and cargo. An extraordinary feature is (hat although there aro hundreds of seamen unemployed in Auckland none was allowed fo fill a vacancy on the vessel yesterday, and this caused the postponement of her departure. The trouble arose because men were not allowed to board the Marama yesterday morning to apply for the position of "peggy." or firemen's steward. The steward who was on the vessel when she arrived from Sydney last Tuesday asked to be paid off on Thursday and the Union Company applied to the Seamen's Union for a man to fill the vacancy, stating he would bo encaged at eight o'clock yesterday morning. At tho appointed time there were about 50 men alongside the Marama. at Prince's Wharf, ready to offer their services for the vacant position. It was raining at the. time and the men desired to go on board tho steamer and interview the chief engineer, who was to engage the steward. A policeman who was stationed at the gangway refused tho men's request and made them remain on the wharf. Meeting ol Protest. This action was resented by the men. who immediately held a meeting of protest. They decided that if they were not allowed fo go on board no member of the union would apply for the position of "peggy" until eight o'clock this morning. The decision was adhered to throughout the day, with the result that the vacancy could not be filled to allow the Marama to sail. About an hour after sailing time the men held another meeting on the wharf, and it was afterwards ' announced that they had definitely refused to allow tho vacancy to be filled before this morning. The mrn then dispersed. In the meantime all the passengers had embarked and there was a large gathering on the wharf to see the Marama leave.- Soon the news went round that there was trouble and it was doubtful when the vessel would sail. It was not until five o'clock that it was announced that the officials of the company had decided to postpone the steamer's departure until this morning. In addition to efforts here to settle the dispute, the matter was referred to Wellington. A conference took place between head office officials of the Union Company and representatives of the Federated Seamen's Union, but without success. Great Inconvenience Caused. Owing to the large number of unemployed it. has been the practice for a considerable time to station policemen at the gangways of the Union Company's large passenger steamers fo prevent unauthorised persons going on board, particularly on sailing day. The policeman on guard at the gangway of the Marama yesterday morning was not aware that there was a vacancy on the vessel and before he could mako inquiries the applicants had left the ship's side. The delay to the Marama has caused considerable inconvenience to a number of passengers who are proceeding to Sydney or. business. There is also serious delay to the mail. The crew of the Marama was not concerned in the trouble. According to the agreement between the Union Company and the Seamen's Union the vessel had to be manned with a full crew, including a " peggy." As the vacancy could not be filled, the remainder of tho crew could not. take tho Marama to sea. When the departure of the vessel was definitely postponed the passengers were given the option of remaining on board or going on shore. Some returned to their homes. No difficulty is expected in despatching the vessel this morning.