WAHINE LEAVES LATE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2027, 13 August 1920, Page 11

WAHINE LEAVES LATE.

TROUBLE OVER SHIP'S ARTICLES. The ferry steamer Wahinc did not get away from Lyltcllon lust night till 10.50, about two hours late. The delay was due to the attitude taken up by the firemen In regard to the articles, which expired at midnight last night. The Union Steam Ship Company had made arrangements to have them signed in Wellington to-day, but yesterday afternoon the firemen made it known that unless the articles were signed at I.vltcltnn Ihc\ would not take the vessel out. Their reason for insisting on Ihls. tiny said, was "hat if anv mishap occurred betwen midnight and the vessel's arrival at Wellington, any claim that might he made for accident pay would be jeopardised. The company protested that the notice was altogether 100 short, and offered to guarantee that any accident claim would be treated exactly as if the articles were in j force, the men, however, refused to accept this assurance, and the work of preparing the papers ami paving the men more than Hiii hi number was begun. All haste possible V. as made by the stall's of the company ami tin- Covcrmnent shipping olllce, but it was nnt till y.-ill p.m. that the last man had signed. Considering the amount of detail work involved, the task was accomplished in a creditably short time.