MANUKA STILL HELD UP.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20354, 10 March 1928, Page 6

MANUKA STILL HELD UP.

MELBOURNE SERVICE DISORGANISED. CREW PAID OFF YESTERDAY. There is no change in regard to the do tention of tho Union Company’s steamer Manuka, which is held up at Dunedin owing to a dispute between tho company .and the firemen—a dispute which ai'oso through the services of one stokehold hand being dispensed with when the ship arrived her© on Thursday from Melbourne and northern ports. Negotiations between the Union Company and the firemen were not successful yesterday morning. The company abided by its decision that unless another man was obtained to replace the discharged fireman tho crow would bo paid off. Tho stokehold hands insisted that the man bo reinstated, and when this was refused tho paying off business was set in motion at 2 p.m. The whole of the Manuka’s crow gathered at the Government Shipping (.mice at that hour, and every man was discharged. All day yesterday the Union Company’s office was besieged by passengers, who inquired if there was any likelihood of the Manuka sailing at any timo during tho dav for Melbourne. They were informed that the dispute had not been settled, and that the position was still indefinite. Most of tho passengers feel the position acutely, as many ore anxious to reach Melbourne to connect with a steamer leaving that port next week for England. Several passengers booked by tho Manuka have come from a* far north _as Auckland to make the trip to Australia in order ro connect with the homeward-bound vessel. The northern passengers remained on board the ship last night.