INTERCOLONIAL SERVICE RESTORED.

Otago Witness, Issue 3384, 22 January 1919, Page 44

INTERCOLONIAL SERVICE RESTORED.

. (By Cable.) SYDNEY, January 14. A Wo conference between the representatives of the Union Company and the Seamen's Union left the shipping position still unsettled. The men raised certain questions of policy with which the '■ company's manager was unable to deal | directly. He cabled full particulars to j the head office in Dunedin, and stated j that he expected a reply of a- satisfactory nature to-morrow. Everything is in readiness should a settlement be reached to put the idle vessels into commission. January 15. . According to the management of the Union Company the shipping trouble has ended. A cable message was received this afternoon from the head office at Dunedin accepting the terms agreed upon at the Sydney conference. It is further stated that the first steamer for New Zealand will sail to-morrow. This is the Moeraki, which is advertised to leave at noon, and for which passengers are being booked and tickets now being issued. Other steamers will leave in due course. To-morrow morning's meeting of seamen will finally decide whether the difficulty is to be settled. The secretary of the Seamen's Union anticipates the men's acceptance of the agreement and the return of the crews to the vessels. The agreement now provides for a fixed advance under given conditions in place of the proposed bonus to which the seamen took exception. The Moeraki and Makura are advertised to sail for New Zealand and the Atua for Fiji to-morrow afternoon. January 16. The terms granted by the Union Steam Ship Company terminate when the ports mentioned are officially declared free from influenza, or three months hence. Arrangements have been completed between the Commonwealth and the New Zealand Governments for the return of Australians stranded in New Zealand, the commonwealth undertaking to bear the expenses of quarantine. The secretary of the Seamen's Union is pleased with the settlement. He says the men have scored a good victory, and will go back to their ships in good heart. The settlement also covers the Ihumata and Joan Craig, which have shipped crews. January 17. The Manuka will sail for Wellington to morrow. The Waitomo has been released from quarantine. In 'the application by the Commonwealth Government for the deregistration of the Seamen's Union Mr Justice Higgins granted an order nisi returnable on January 24. STRANDED AUSTRALIANS. WELLINGTON, January .14. Referring- to New Zealanders stranded in Australia, Sir James Allen remarked that there had been no need for them to rely on the Australian authorities for financial assistance. The New Zealand Government had cabled its willingness to help any persons who were in distress. He had no knowledge that the Australian Government had felt itself obliged to give help to New Zealanders. The need for such financial assistance had not arisen, as the New Zealand Government had taken the responsibility. One Australian estimates that about 150 people from that country are in distress as a result of the interruption of the shipping service, and that about 150 others are also in need of passages, as their businesses require teavelling between the two countries. January 1?. ' The steamer Tofua sailed at half-past 3 this afternoon for Adelaide, en route to England. The vessel took the Australian visitors who have been stranded in Wellington for some time past. The settlement of the Sydney trouble is not regarded as permanent by gossips on the waterfront. They have the story that the men in these ships are, many of them, New Zealanders, and that they are anxious > to pet over here for the fun when it begins. The rumour is unreliable, but there is the story for what it is worth. RESUMPTION OF TRAFFIC. MOVEMENTS OF STEAMERS. The following information regarding the movements of tho steamers affected by the dispute were supplied by the officials at the Union Company's head office at Dunedin i The R.M.S. Makura was despatched from

Sydney at 8 on Thursday night for Auckland. The R.M.S. Niagara, which was released from, quarantine last week, is timed to leave Sydney on Wednesday, January 22, for Auckland. She will be due at the northern port on Sunday, January 26, and will ieave there on Tuesday, January 28, for Suva, Honolulu, and Vancouver. The Moeraki, carrying a full complement of passengers, left Sydney at 7 p.m. on Thursday for Wellington direct. The Manuka is time-tabled to leave Sydney for Wellington direct. She, should arrive there on Wednesday, January 22. So far as is known, it has not yet been decided when the Huddart-Parker steamers Riverina and Westralia will resume the.r former running in the intercolonial service.