SHIPPING HOLD-UP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18736, 14 December 1922, Page 8

SHIPPING HOLD-UP

NON-UNIONISTS AT LYTTELTON. EXISTING ON STRIKE FAY. (Pee United Peess Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, December 13. The strike is affecting- the tradespeople of Lyttelton pretty badly, as idle seamen until last week were receiving no financial support from their union. It is understood that destitute unionists are now being paid their board after they have been idle for one month, or tobacco and food in cases where the men are “baching” or camping. It is estimated that there are between 300 and 400 seamen idle at Lyttelton, in addition to a fairly large number who are living at Christchurch. They seem to lake the strike in rather an unconcerned manner, being confident that in the end they will benefit, and go back to work under the conditions of the old award, with the now rates of pay under the recent award. Naturally some of the married men are feeling the pinch, and are anxious to see the trouble ended. THE POSITION AT LYTTELTON. (FROM OUH OWN UORHESnOMJENi'.J CHRISTCHURCH, December 13. Nearly trJ oi the Union Company's steamers are in commission (says tne fatal-to-iugnl). Most ot them are manned by volunteer seamen. Under the circumstances tue snipowners declare tneir aunty to carry on indeliintely. the seamen, on the ot.ier hand, Hold that the snipowners are being put to considerable inconvenience and expense, and tnut Uio manning of the vessels by volunteers is not working satisfactorily. Five ot tlie Uni.cn company's steamers —the Niagara, the Wairuna, tne Wairaai'ino, the \V ailiora, and the VVaitemata —are manned by members of the facarneiTs Union, working under tne Australian award, and under the oversea articles. These five have not visited New Zealand or Australia since the strike commenced. The Niagara is due at Auckland from Vancouver in a day or two, the Wuiruna and the Waiinurino are. loading at Canadian ports; the Waitemata left Calcutta a week ago, and the Waihora is loading at Singapore for Auckland. Prom appearances at Lyttelton no one would imagine that a shipping strike was in progress. The transport of cargo between Jjyttelton and other ports is proceeding, and more couid be carried if it were offering. The only vessels at present held up at Lyttelton are tire Wahino, which will commence running in the ferry service to-morrow, and the yWaikouaiti, an intercolonial steamer. When the VVahinte resumes the ferry service will be back to normal. The intercolonial service is not yet fully reinstated. The Manuka and the Moeraki have been manned by free labour, and are running, but so far cargo vessels have not been manned, though the Whangape and the Koromiko are expected to leave Australian ports for Wellington very shortly. Bo far the Union Company has not made any effort to despatch the Waikouaiti from Lyttelton to Sydney. This vessel is employed in the South Island intercolonial trade, THE MOERAKI. ARRIVAL IN AUCKLAND. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, December 13. The Moeraki arrived from Sydney to-day with 276 passengers and the largest cargo carried by an intercolonial vessel for many months. The steamer was originally scheduled to sail on November 9, but trouble arose over the replacing of three stokehold hands who were paid off. The stokeholders, who refused duty, were arrested and sentenced to 10 days’ imprisonment. One hundred and seventy-two passengers disembarked, and the mails were taken off, and the remainder of the crew stayed on board the vessel in the stream. Last week volunteer stokehold hands were engaged, but the deck hands refused to work with them. The deck hands were arrested and were sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment. Their places were taken by volunteer seamen, mostly unemployed Britishers kept in readiness. IN AUSTRALIA. RESUMPTION OF NEW ZEALAND SERVICE. Press Association—Bv Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, December 13. (Received Dec. 13, at 9.60 p.m.) The Union Steam Ship Company has announced that it has now arranged for a full service between Australia, and New Zealand by means of voluntary labour. The company states that there will be no further delay. The Whangape will not leave till Thursday owing to loading operafions. The ex-members of the Moeraki’s crew have been released after serving their sentences. They refused to express an opinion on the dispute. THE LOCAL POSITION. The waterfront is still very busy, all the available labour being absorbed. The Calm, which arrived here on Tuesday night, discharged a quantity of wool, and sailed for Bluff, from which port she will return and load for Wanganui, via ports. Several other vessels have been delayed owing to the shortage of labour and to the rain, including the Suffolk, Canadian Conqueror, and Waipori. The Rama, and the Kine, which were to sail last night for Wellington and Gisborne, via ports, respectively, were also delayed, and are to sail to-day. The Wanaka, which arrived here yesterday morning from Auckland, via ports, remained idle throughout the day, as there were no men tio work her.