THE SKIPPING TROUBLE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17122, 25 October 1917, Page 5

THE SKIPPING TROUBLE.

. DUNEDIN, October 24. xlie coastal steamer Kotare, after being laid up for about a month, obtained a crew to-day and sailed for limaru and Wellington- She had a full cargo, which was loaded a fortnight ago.

WELLINGTON, Oct. 24. Efforts are being made to arrange for some of the smaller vessels which have been idle during ihe past few weeks to resume their running, and it is expected that the Invercarg.ill will be enabled to get away to-morro\r.

GOVERNMENT SUSPENDS THE MANNING SCALE.

(Per Prtess Association.

. WELLINGTON, Oct. 23. The Minister of Marine States thai the Government is of opinion that the time has come to use the powers contained in Clause 57 of the Shipping and Seamen's Act. 1909, to set going the mosquito fleet; which has been laid up for several weeks.

Ihis clause provides that the Minister of (Marine may, if he thinks fit exempt any ship from .the requirements of the Act if he is satisfied the requirements are substantially complied with, or that the-circumstances of the case render it unnecessary. Thus the Government can exempt the small ships from the regulations regarding tbe manning scale, under safeguards which satisfy the Minister that the public safety is not jeopardised. Applications have already been made under these provisions, and the Minister states that it is probable that the boats will commence to move within the next day or two. In fact, one was likely to getaway from Wellington en Wednesday.