AT LYTTELTON

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11366, 13 November 1922, Page 5

AT LYTTELTON

VESSELS AFFECTED TRANSPORT OF PASSENGERS BY AIR PROPOSED. ARE MEN BEING COERCED ? PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH. November 11. The following are vessels at Lyttelton affected by the trouble: —Wahine, Wanaka, Katoa, Canopus, Cygnet. The Kokiri, Karori, Canopus, Cygnet. The following are the boats in port not yet affected: Wakatu, Progre a Breeze. The Breeze is due to sail tonight for Dunedin, and it is probable Iter crew will sign off there, and she will be laid up. The crew of the Cygnet gave noti :e this morning, ami the Katnona is due on Monday from Greymouth with bunker coal for H.M.S. Chatham. This vessel is not yet affected. Tho transport of exhibits for tho New Zealand industrial exhibition, which will be opened at Christchurch next week, will be only slightly affected by the strike. Most of the exhihits have already reached Christchurch . . NO FERRY PASSENGERS BY HOME LINERS. Even if tlie strike continues the Homo liners are not- likely to be affected seriously. These vessels are under London articles, and the members of the crews age not governed by the award, which is the source of the trouble A certain amount- of inconvenience will he caused in regard to transhipments to and from smaller ports, but very little difficulty will be experienced as far as Canterbury is concerned. The local manager of the New Zealand Shipping Co.npany stated: ‘lt will not be possible for any of the Home liners to carry ferry passengers between Wellington and Lyttelton ns the men ar- signed on under London articles. The boats are not permitted to trade between New Zealand ports unless New Zealand rates of wages are paid. You may- regard it as certain that the Home liners would not carry ferry passengers, even if the trouble was prolonged.” BY AIR TO WELLINGTON. If the stianded northerners can get back to the North Island by no other means the opportunity will be extended to them to fly from Christchurch to Wellington. Mr Climie, organiser of the Canterbury- Progress League, told a reporter this afternoon that Captain Euan Dickson, of tho Canterbury Aviation Company, is prepared if necessary, and if the demand justifies it, to place the company's machines at the service of the public to convey passengers to "Wellington.

POSITION IN DUNEDIN CREWS GIVING NOTICE. EFFECT OF HOLD-UP. DUNEDIN, November 12. The shipping trouble is spreading here, and the whole of the crew on the Corinna from Lyttelton to Dunedin gave notice when coming south. On arriving at Dunedin, at 8.40 a.m. on Saturday, the men left the vessel. The Kamo, from Oamaru, arrived at 11.20 p.m. on Saturday, as it was necessary te. renew the articles at Dunedin, as the vessel was going with mails and cargo to the Chatkams. The crew signed off, However, and it is not probable that the vessel will leave on Monday, as was previously intended. No trouble lias been experienced on the Hohndale, which arrived at Dunedin on Sunday morning from Wellington. The vessel is to leave on Tuesday night for Wanganui via ports. The Kaitoke, Waikouaiti, Corinna, and Kamo are now tied up at Dunedin owing to the strike. Donaghy’B Rope Works were obliged to take a quantity of rope for tho Corinna back to the works. The output at the works will probably- Be considerably reduced if the shipping trouble continues, and if there is a lengthy struggle may close down for a short period. Several departments in one or two large confectionery manufacturers’ works have closed down. The position will be relieved on the arrival by train at Dunedin to-night or to-mor-row of 200 tons of sugar, ex the Katoa at Lyttelton.

The New Zealand Express Company here gives its employees a week’s notice, but otb#r local carrying concerns are not yet affected.

THE CHRISTMAS TRADE QUESTION OF SUPPLIES. SERIOUS POSITION IN CHRISTCHURCH. Per Pres 3 Association. CHRISTO HU RCU, November 11. The manager of a large retail busi ness in tljie city said that tho position was most serious. Transhipments for tho Christmas trade were expected an the next two weeks. If they did not arrive the whole- of tho season’s trade would be disorganised. During the past few years retailers in the city had combined to get into the Christmas trade as early as possible. The Retailers’ Association had advised that course, and the public had been asked to help. The idea was to avoid throwing it on to tho last few days. This year that principle has been given greater importance by the fact that the general election will be held next month. If the goods did not come forward it was useless to ask people to shop early, and if they came at the wrong time tho season would be spoilt. A quantity of potatoes is held up at Lyttelton as the result of the shipping trouble. However, as this is about the end of tho season for shipping potatoes to the North Island, the quantity is comparatively small. One of the largest shippers of potatoes stated to-day that as there would be no new potatoes coming from the North Island as long as the trouble lasted there would be an increased demand for old ones, and ho thought a ready market would bo found locally for potatoes in store at Lyttelton. It is not likely much change will occur in tho price of potatoes. The quantity held in Canterbury is comparatively small, and will probably be just about sufficient to satisfy local leijuirements until Canterbury-grown new potatoes are ready in about a month’s time. Tile Port Denison, which was to liavo Bailed for New Plymouth this afternoon carrying a mail, lias been delayed, and will now sail to-morrow morning. The Progress, for Nelson, is also delayed, and will not sail til! Monday.