THE MOERAKI.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19407, 17 February 1925, Page 4

THE MOERAKI.

DUE FROM MELBOURNE TO-DAY. QUESTION OP UNLOADING CARGO. Tho fact that the Union Company’s passenger steamer Mooraki is coming from Melbourne to New Zealand manned a non-union crew is arousing considerable interest amongst those connected with shipping. There is a feeling in many quarters that trouble will arise in connection with discharging tho cargo from the vessel’s holds, but others are of opinion—and it is an opinion which appears to be shared by several waterside workers—that as the cargo was not loaded by free labour at Melbourne there is no reason why tho local waterside workers should refuse to handle it. The captain of the Moeraki has advised by wireless that the vessel will arrive in the lower harbour about 6.30 p.m. to-day. She will anchor to undergo tho customary medical inspection,. I'p to last night no berth had boon allotted to the steamer at Dunedin, so that nothing definite was known concerning tho ship’s movements after being granted pratique. A prominent official of tho Dunedin Waterside Workers’ Union informed a Daily Times reporter yesterday that tho union had no particular interest concerning the Moeraki beyond what tho members had already read in tho local newspapers. “So far ns my union is concerned,’’ ho said, “work will be proceeded with on the waterfront in the usual way. Tho question of discharging tho Moeraki has not been considered by the executive of the union. Tho Moeraki is no more to tho union at tho present time than any other ship.”