THE MAPOURIKA

Southland Times, Issue 17244, 15 January 1913, Page 6

THE MAPOURIKA

NO STOKE MODI) CHEW. 1,1 E UP INDEULNITELV. tPer United Press Association). \VELI, IX’OTON. January It. The advice given in the newspapers this morning to intending passengers to the West Coast has proved to be quite sound in every particular. Anyone who wishes now to reach the Coast must either travel via Christchurch or wait for the Arahura at the end of the week, for tlie Mappnrika lias been taken off the run. and is to lie np indefinitely. X’o men could la* obtained to form the vessels stokehold erew this morning, and (tie Union Co. was forced to pay off all other hands. It was ascertained in the afternoon that tlie Seamen's Union would not make any trouble or objection if tlie Union Co. were to put smother boat on tlie run to replace tlie Msipotirika. Tlie Secretary (Mr Voting I said that tlie only objection was to tlie heavy work imposed on the Mapourika's firemen on tlie existing staffing scale. If the Company put on the Te Ami u or some other boat It would get a crew all right. Tlie whole matter was discussed at a meeting of the Wellington Seamen’s Union, which passed tlie following resolution: "Whereas tlie Mapourika lias become too heavy a ship for one fireman on tlie watch, and whereas we consider Ihe health of uir members is of more importance than profit, this Union recommends to its members and others not to seek employment on tlie -Mapourika till such time as the Union Company agrees to the reasonable proposal of tlie Union to engage an additional hand In tlie stokehold department, which will cost them merely an additional £l2 per month in wages, and will result In overcoming tlie present difficulty, that a committee of three, consisting of two men paid off tlie ship to-day and the secretary, he appointed to lay tills resolution before the Wellington branch manager of the Company .and discuss with him the advisability of giving effect to our proposal.

In accordan;e with the resolution, said Mr Young, he and two men interviewed Mr Kennedy, and placed the matter before him. Mr Kennedy declared that (he Company had made up its mind not to move from its decision. From what was said it was clear to the I'nion's representatives that the had dealt with the matter before the Union had an oppoitunity of considering it. and before any arguments had hern heard. Mr Kennedy informed a pressman that as" they could not gel firemen for the MapouriUa. they had decided to lay her up indefinitely and pay off all hands. 'l’liis included the stewards and seamen who were in no way concerned with the firemen's trouble. lu all thirty-six men were paid off the vessel yesterday. •■\Ve have made no arrangements for replacing her in the run." said Mr Kennedy in reply to a question. "No doubt die Union would like very much to see us put another boat on for they want to <rel rid of the Mapourika, Hut we do not look upon it in that light."