Waikouaiti Held Up.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18578, 28 September 1928, Page 1

Waikouaiti Held Up.

“ WILL BE LAID UP INDEFINITELY,” SAYS COMPANY MANAGER

DISCHARGE OF STOKERS CAUSE OF TROUBLE

The Union Steam Ship Company’s freighter Waikouaiti, which should have left Lyttelton to-day for Timaru en route for Sydney, has been held up at Lyttelton owing to trouble with the stokehold crew, four members of which were discharged when the crew signed off on September 19. Mr M. Rudd, acting-manager of the Union Sceam Ship Company, made the following statement this morning: “The crew of the Waikouaiti signed off on September 19, and it was intended that a fresh crew would sign immediately. Four members of the stokehold crew had not given sat/faction to the eiigin* eers, and under these circumstances the company decided that it would not re-engage them. “ Several conferences have taken place between the company and the Sea men’s Union, an 1 Mr F. P. Walsh, pre-

sident of the Federated Seamen s Union of New Zealand, was present at a conference held in Lyttelton yesterday. He insisted on the men being reinstated, notwithstanding the fact that they had not given satisfaction. “The Union Company decided that.

as it was necessary to maintain discipline on the ship, it was not possible to do otherwise than back up the engineers. The company has not been able to obtain a crew for* the stokehold, although there are plenty of men available.

“ The ship will be laid up indefinitely The company regret that this is necessary. particular!}' as the ship is trading between South Island ports and Svd ney and Newcastle, and already a quan tity of cargo is on board for Australia. Fortunately, the company was able to ship the cargo to Wellington last evening for transhipment to the Marama, which leaves for Sydney to-day. “ The crew have no complaint to make against the engineers, and, indeed, sa/ that they were given a square deal by them. The complaint is that they were not informed, when they were given notice to pay off for the purpose of changing articles, that their services would not be required. The company have pointed out that, in accordance with the Union Company's agreement with the seamen, it is customary to sign on the crew at the Government shipping office. Mr F. P. Walsh, when questioned regarding the seamen's side of the trouble, said that he had no statemen to make.