SHIPPING HOLD-UP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23182, 31 October 1938, Page 10

SHIPPING HOLD-UP

WATEKSIDEBS CEASE * ATTENDANCE AT FUNERAL MANY VESSELS DELAYED MEN'S ACTION CRITICISED r nv telegraph—rr? ess association] WELLINGTON, Sunday All cargo working ceased on the Wellington waterfront at noon yesterday, causing delay to a number of overseas ships and coastal vessels. This ivas alb the more serious following short time worked both on Thursday and Friday because of rain. The reason given by the watersiders for their decision not to work during tho afternoon was their desire to attend the funeral of an old and inuch- fc respected member of the union who died as a result of a fall into the hold of the Kalingo on Thursday. Cargo Shut Out

In consequence of the hold-up of work several steamers had to shut out cargo that had been booked for shipment. The motor-ship Waiana, which was due to leave for Auckland during the afternoon, had a fair amount of cargo to discharge and further cargo, including a number of motor-cars, to load. Consequently her departure was postponed until to-morrow. Had she sailed yesterday the Waiana would have arrived at Auckland in time to start discharging to-morrow afternoon. The Shaw, Savill and A'bion liner Mahia was to have left yesterday for Lyttelton. The City of Glasgow and the Doric Star also did no work during the afternoon. Position on Awatea The New Zealand Shipping Company's motor-liner Rangitiki arrived late in the morning £rom Auckland and the Federal Line steamer Middlesex early in the afternoon from New Plymouth, and neither vessel was able to handle any cargo. The Awatea from Sydney berthed at Queen's Wharf shortly after 10 a.m. Her mails and passengers' baggage were handled by members of her crew, the Union Company's permanent staff and harbour board employees. She worked no cargo. Remarking that the general stoppage of work at mid-dav meant delay to the large amount of shipping tonnage in port, a shipping man pointed out that if a railwayman were killed at work, work would not cease on the railways to enable the mew to attend the funeral, nor would the working of the city tramways be stopped in the case of a tramwav worker's funeral.