SHIPPING STRIKE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22608, 22 December 1936, Page 11

SHIPPING STRIKE

DEADLOCK IN AMERICA

PASSENGERS STRANDED

EFFECT ON TOURIST TRADE

THE NIAGARA'S LARGE MAIL

Relief at their arrival in New Zealand after experiencing considerable inconvenience in the United States because of the shipping strike on the Pacific Coast was expressed yesterday by a number of passengers who arrived at Auckland by the Niagara from Vancouver. Some of them had been stranded for a time in San Francisco by the delay in the Monterey's departure and had been forced to go to Canada to take a chance of getting a berth there; others had intended to travel through the United States on their way to New Zealand and Australia and had at the last minute to alter their plans in order to join a ship at Vancouver. Several of the Niagara's passengers are making business visits to New Zealand and Australia and a few of them have missed some of their appointments. For instance, two woolbrokers, Mr. Otto Sommer and Mr. S. P. Warburton, wanted to arrive at Auckland in time for the first sale of the season, but now they have missed several sales. Widespread Disorganisation The Niagara brought over 450 passengers, a number of whom would in the normal course of events have travelled from San Francisco. In the holds, too, there was some cargo from the United States, and~ft was stated yesterday that probably some of this would have been sent by the other route had it not been for the strike.

The danger of the strike affecting the tourist trade to New Zealand was expressed by one of the passengers. He said he had heard several Americans talking about the disappointment that had been voiced in letters" from Americans stranded in New Zealand who had been unable to make arrangements to return home in time for Christmas. Dissatisfaction with the fact that there were no ships, apart from those engaged in the Vancouver service, to relieve the position had also been expressed and statements had been made leading him to believe that the strike might have, at least for a time, a discouraging effect upon Americans when they were considering which countries they should visit for a holiday. Accumulation of Mail The strike had also had the effect of stranding many American and English tourists in Hawaii. Although the Pan-American Airways machines were hooked out for every flight they made and were relieving the situation to some extent, there were numbers of tourists whose plans had gone hopelessly awry. It was stated yesterday by some of those who had to join a ship at Vancouver after going to San Francisco that there seemed to be no chance of a compromise between strikers and the shipping owners. Those persons wishing to visit New Zealand and Australia had abandoned hope of coming through the United Spates and were making arrangements for crossing Canada. Another result of the shipping strike which was apparent on the Niagara was the tremendous amount of mail —the largest loaded at Vancouver by a Canadian and Australian 11 oval Mail steamer. At Vancouver 7864 bags were taken on board and a further Too were loaded at Victoria. For three days before the Niagara's departure from Vancouver there were unprecedented scenes at the ship's side. On each of the three days a train from San Francisco brought about 2000 bags. About half the mail was for Honolulu, 2841 bags were for New Zealand., and 1267 for Australia. At Suva mail officials were surprised by the delivery of 625 bags.