THE TUTANEKAI

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10508, 9 February 1920, Page 5

THE TUTANEKAI

AUCKLAND HOLD-UP CAPTAIN POST AND THE FIRE3IEN. ATTITUDE OF THU "WATERSIDERS. A special message from Auckland to the “New Zealand Times” states that had it not been for the tactfulness, forbearance and -general diplomacy of Captain Post, oi the 1 utanckai, and Major Puttick, D. 5.0., officer m charge of the R.N.Z.A. party, considerable inconvenience would have occurred and probably a lengthy delay experienced. The incidents leading up to tho temporary hold-up of the iutanckai have already appeared in the telegraphic columns of the ’Times. FIREMEN CLAD! DISCHARGE. As a result of tho explanations to the watersiders, who, without official instructions, refused to handle coal because (they said) “it was tO ( bo used for strike-breaking purposes,” all difficulties seemed to- have been swept aside, but when the boat was right at the point of sailing another obstacle arose to mar the smoothness of P l /' paratiou and upset all schedules. This now imjjassc- was created by the firemen of the boat, who waited on Captain Post and demanded to be discharged. They ga\'e as their reasons the fact that they had signed on at Wellington for ordinary service, and bad not been informed that they were to run tho vessel to a strike-area- at Fiji. They were unwilling to do this work, but tho skipper told them they would have to abide by their articles. Accordingly they loft the ship. After,, their arrest hy the water police they were at the police station given another opportunity of expressing their intentions, and they decided to go back to the ship. This last act of theirs was not taken until the whole, position was laid before them by Caplain Post and other authorities. Iho expedition was not going ns a strikebreaking power, they were told, but was being sent simply to sec that no barm was done to the 4000 white men, women and children by tho 16,000 dissatisfied coolies. It was made clear to the obstinate firemen. that Captain Post was under instructions to keep hia ship out or rifle-range from the shore, and that although the expedition was equipped for active service, no stops would be taken for any purpose other than to protect the European residents upon Fiji. Upon this assurance the" men decided to return, and the vessel was enabled to sail. Both Captain Post and 3lajor Puttick wore complimented on the tactfulness played in what bade loir to become a most delicate sii.uation. THE WATERSIDERS.

explanation m: president. Two features of the hold-up were explained ;by the president of the Auckland AVatenhde Workers’ Union (Mr N. Saunders) as soon as the trouhlo regarding. the coaling of the boat had developed. Air Saunders stated qm'to definitely that the men haft acted entirely 011 their ora initiative in their refusal to fill the bunkers of the Tutanckai. The officials of the union knew nothing of the trouble until it was passed. In his opinion, tho men had followed this lino of action partly through a misunderstanding of the purpose of the expedition, and partly because they were greatly concerned about the coal shortage and the tramway cut in the city. Mr Saundens said that tho tramway cut was causing many of tho watersiders a great deal of inconvenience, but none of tho coal shortage arguments and rumours flying about the waterfront came from official sources. Ho instanced one rumour which stated that' watersiders declared that tho tramway cut should bo worked on a different system, with cars running to bring workers down in the morning and bade at night, hut with the ordinary midday and evening services drastically curtailed or dispensed with altogether. ‘'This,” said Air ■'is current opinion upon the Auckland waterfront, but there is nothing official behind it.” Another rumour mentioned by , tho president concerned the dissatisfaction that had been expressed regarding certain so-called anomalies in restrictions of the services. ‘‘We all know that power is found to light Haring commercial signs at night,' 1 ho declared, ‘‘and to illuminate shop windows after the shops are closed, yet power cannot b,p found for necessary tramway services.” But he gave a (straight denial to those rumours that hinted at gome contemplated action by the’ Auckland watersiders in connection with the shortage. He was president of tho union, and lie officially know of nothing along tho lines so freely hinted by Dame Rumour.