SHIPS HELD UP

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21181, 31 October 1938, Page 8

SHIPS HELD UP

Watersiders Attend Funeral Cargo Shut Out By Telpernph—Prpß<= Association WELLINGTON, October 30. All cargo working ceased on the Wellington waterfront at noon on Saturday causing delay to a number of overseas ships and coastal vessels, which was all the more serious following the short time worked both on Thursday and Friday, because of rain. The reason given by the watersiders for their decision not to work during the afternoon was their desire to attend the funeral of an old and much-respected member of the union who died as a result of a fall into the hold of the Kalingo on Thursday. In consequence of the holdup of work, several steamers had to shut out cargo that had been booked for shipment on Saturday. The Waiana, which was due to leave for Auckland during the afternoon, had a fair amount of cargo to discharge, and further cargo, including a number of motor cars, to load, and consequently her departure was postponed until to-morrow. Had she sailed on Saturday the Waiana would have arrived at Auckland in time to start discharging to-morrow afternoon.

The Shaw Savill and Albion Line Mahia was to have left on Saturday for Lyttelton, and the City of Glasgow and the Doric Star also did no work during the afternoon.

The New Zealand Shipping Company’s motor liner Rangitiki arrived late in the mouning from Auckland, and the Federal steamer Middlesex early in the afternoon from New Plymouth, and neither vessel was able to handle any cargo. The Awatea, from Sydney, berthed at Queen’s Wharf shortly after 10 o’clock, and her mails and passengers’ baggage were handled by members of her crew, the Union Company’s permanent staff and Harbour Board employees. She worked no cargo.

Remarking that a general stoppage of work at mid-day meant delay to a great amount of shipping tonnage in port, a shipping man pointed out that if a railwayman were killed at work, there would be no stoppage of work on the railways to enable the men to attend the funeral, nor would the working of the city tramways be stopped in the case of a tramway worker's funeral.