LATEST FROM CHRISTCHURCH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 1 November 1913, Page 5

LATEST FROM CHRISTCHURCH.

A DIVISION OF OPINION. SEAMEN WILL NOT FOLLOW MR YOUNG. CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. To-day the harbour bears a very deserted appearance. The only arrivals this morning were the Ulimaroa, from Sydney, via Wellington, with a few passengers on board. The vessel had about 170 tons of cargo to unload at Lytteltou, but was unable to discharge it. Included amongst the cargo is 400 cases of fruit, but this, too, has to be carried on to Dunedin. This morning it was ascertained on good authority that efforts were made in Wellington last night by the officials of the Seamen's and Firemen's Unions to induce the firemen on the Maori to leave the vessel just prior to its departure for Lyttelton. The effort was not successful, and it is understood that the men resented any action being taken in regard to any particular vessel. Shortly afKr midday it was ascer-

tained from a reliable source that there is every possibility of the seamen and firemen coming out to-mor-

row. The absence of a branch of the Seamen's and Firemen's Union in Lyttelton prevents any confirmation of the statement.

There were rumours this afternoon that the crew of the Wahine had gone out at Wellington, ana that the crew of the Maori intended to follow suit, A member of the crew of the latter slrp that Mr Young, who is secretary of their union, as well as president of the Federation, had come on board at Wellington last night and had instructed them to give 2-T hours' notice on receipt of a telegram from Wellington. The men replied that they were, not prepared to do this, as they did not see why they should come out when other ships were kept running. Many of them had been standing by, waiting for the Maori at Dunedin for some weeks, and wanted to know who would keep them if they left at Wellington. They also stated that as they had joined at Dunedin they regarded Mr Belcher, the Dunedin secretary, as the man they must look to. This morning one of the Maori's seamen wired to Mr Belcher for advice, and received the following reply: "Large and representative meeting last night decided that nothing should be done in the way of a callout of seamen. We, at Dunedin, have no knowledge of any movement in that direction, and advice from here is to adhere to your employment until some general action is decided upon bv someone who is authorised to caII.—BELCHER." Throughout the morning the ferry steamer Maori was bunkered by the permanent staff of the Union Company. Stores were placed on both tho Maori and Ulimaroa without any effort being made to stop them. When pickets went round to tiie cygnet this morning they were followed at a respectful distance by an inoffensive-looking young man with a camera. He'took several snapshots Of incidents with reference to the cessation of work, but then a picket pounced on him. He pleaded that he was only an amateur engaged in a peaceful and inoffensive occupation. "I know him," said one man, "He's a newspaper photographer" The picket commenced to act at once, and the photographer was directed to destroy the plates he had exposed. They ordered the destruction of the lot of them. The plates were exposed to the light and scratched,, to make assurance doubly sure.