LITTLE CHANGE

Southland Times, Issue 22009, 8 May 1933, Page 8

LITTLE CHANGE

SHIPPING HOLD-UP MAUNGANUI SAILS VOLUNTEER CREW (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, May 7. There has been no change in the shipping hold-up over the week-end. Manned by volunteer labour the Maunganui left for Sydney. The- Tamahine for Picton and the ferry steamers Arahura and Maori left at the usual times for Nelson and Lyttelton respectively. The only other ship to leave on Saturday with the exception of the Ruahine and the Port Hunter which were not affected, was the auxiliary scow Echo for Blenheim. She obtained a fresh crew.

The engagement of the Maunganui s crew was completed on Friday and the departure fixed for 10 a.m. Saturday to enable passengers booked at Auckland by the Monowai to join her. About 120 passengers who arrived from Auckland were transported by bus to the wharf at 11.45 a.m. The Maunganui departed to the accompaniment of hoots from strikers gathered in the vicinity. During the morning only passengers and Union Company officials were allowed on the wharf. Tire Tamahine obtained a volunteer crew on Saturday morning, a strong force of police keeping the wharf clear of strikers of whom only a few witnessed the ship’s departure. The Arahura and the Maori sailed without incident. The Tamahine arrived back at Wellington at 9.20 p.m. on Saturday from Picton to maintain the usual running for the week. The motor ship Holmglen arrived on Saturday evening from Lyttelton manned by officers and engineers only. It is understood arrangements were made on Saturday to obtain volunteer crews for a number of cargo steamers but that no action would be taken actually to man the ships until a meeting of shipowners.

EARLIER MESSAGES. STRIKERS ACTIVE. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, May 6. The Maunganui left the wharf at 11.30 and moved to the stream to clear her papers. She has not yet left the stream. Nobody but the passengers were allowed on the wharf and the police kept the neighbouring streets clear. After the ship had pulled out a crowd of strikers demonstrated from the Te Aro Reclamation, booing and counting the ship out. An attempt was made last night to throw off the mooring ropes of the Natone, which conveyed voluntary labour to the Maunganui. The watchman on the tug Terawhiti saw, the attempt and on his approach the men ran away. POSITION AT AUCKLAND. NO NEW DEVELOPMENTS. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, May 7. There were no developments on the Auckland waterfront to-day. The Union Company’s Kanna arrived from Walpole Island and the Waimea from Gisborne. They will probably join the idle fleet. The coastal tanker Paua, the crew of which were working under the old agreement, left last night for Wellington. WINGATUI’S CREW PAID OFF. (Per United Press Association ) Auckland, May 6. The steamer Wingatui’s crew of 22 will be paid off this afternoon. The steamer Alexander was due to leave Onehunga at 6 o’clock this morning when the crew asked to be paid off. Her owners offered the old pay and conditions to the crew to take her back to Nelson. The crew is still undecided. The sailing of the Paua has been delayed till four o’clock. The position regarding the Northern Company’s vessels lyill not be known till their sailing times arrive this afternoon. AT LYTTELTON. CREWS PAID OFF. (Per United Press Association.) Christchurch, May 7.

The only new developments in the shipping dispute at Lyttelton during the week-end were the holding up of the Union Company’s small steamer Opihi and the refusal of the waterside workers to work the Waikouaiti on Saturday afternoon. The Opihi arrived on Saturday morning from Timaru. The crew were offered the new terms which they refused to accept. They were accordingly given 24 hours’ notice and will be paid off tomorrow. The crew of the Waikouaiti left the ship at midday on Saturday and were paid off during the afternoon. The watersiders declined to resume working her cargo in the afternoon.

VESSELS TIED UP AT LYTTELTON. (Per United Press Association.) Christchurch, May 6. No vessels left Lyttelton this morning. The Opihi arrived from Timaru during the forenoon and the crew read the new agreement. On refusing to work under it they were given 24 hours’ notice and will be paid off on Monday. The crews of the Waikawa and Waikouaiti were paid off this morning. AT DUNEDIN. VESSELS HELD UP. (Per United Press Association.) Dunedin, May 7. The Waipiata, Storm and Tees are still held up here. The last-named vessel loaded general cargo on Saturday morning and the local agents were hopeful that she would sail at midday for northern ports, more especially as instructions are said to have been received by the crew from officials of the Seamen's Union in Wellington to take her to sea. Moreover the men had not been paid on Friday. Later on Saturday afternoon, however, the crew again decided not to sail and the Tees remains at her berth. DISORDERLY BEHAVIOUR. SEAMAN FINED. (Per United Press Association ) . Nelson, May 6. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day James Wilson Robertson, aged 21, one of the seamen previously employed on the Arahura, was charged with behaving in a disorderly manner while drunk and using insulting words, “Scabs, scabs, scabs,” when the Arahura was about to sail last evening. Accused pleaded guilty to the first charge and not guilty to the second. Counsel said that the whole trouble had been caused through the accused taking too much drink. The. police looked upon the matter as serious in view of existing circumstances. Accused was fined £3 on the first charge and was ordered to enter into a recognisance to keep the peace for six months in the sum of £lO and find

a surety of £lO for good behaviour, in default six months’ imprisonment. Default for the fine was fixed at one month. The second information was dismissed. KIWITEA DELAYED. (Per United Press Association.) Oamaru, May 6. The Kiwitea is held up here to-day, but the company expects no long delay here. VESSELS AT WESTPORT. (Per United Press Association.) Westport, May 7. The Totara, Kini, Canopus, Waipahi and the Margaret W. are in port but a response is not expected when crews are called for at 8 p.m. Advice from the delegates is anticipated to-morrow morning. The steamer Gale and the auxiliary schooner Moa which put in here through stress of weather may be unaffected by the dispute.