KAIAPOI LAID UP

Southland Times, Issue 20772, 13 May 1929, Page 14

KAIAPOI LAID UP

TROUBLE WITH CREW. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, May 10. Trouble with the crew of the Union Company’s steamer Kaiapoi at Auckland has resulted in the men being given 24 hours’ notice and the vessel being laid up. The Kaiapoi was to have been despatched for Westport at five o’clock, but seven stokers were absent at sailing time. Although later they returned to the steamer in twos and threes they would not remain on board. After midnight departure was postponed until seven o’clock this morning, but at that time there was still one man missing. The Seamen’s Union was requested to supply a substitute, but the man sent by it was objected to by the chief engineer. This brought about a deadlock owing to the crew refusing to take the vessel to sea unless the man sent by the union wassignedon. Previously the trouble was confined to the stokers, but they were later backed up by the Seamen’s Union. The company upheld the chief engineer's objection and informed all members of the crew that their services were not further required. They will be paid off to-morrow and the Kaiapoi withdrawn from commission.