WAIRUNA’S CREW

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 228, 28 September 1935, Page 9

WAIRUNA’S CREW

ARREST FOR DESERTION. VANCOUVER, Sept. 26. Thirty-one members of the crew of the Wairuna were arrested and charged with desertion after leaving the vessel following their refusal to furnish steam because the vessel was unloaded by non-union men through the longshoremen’s strike. The men requested deportation by immigration officials, but the police acted on warrants sworn by the captain and officers. The stewards remained on board.

MEN STATE CASE THE COMPANY’S VIEWPOINT Received Sept. 27, 7.50 p.m. VANCOUVER, Sept. 26-Thirty-three deckhands and firemen on the Wairuna were arrested aboard the vessel by the city police, aud were charged with desertion. They will appear in the Court to-morrow. .Warrants were sworn out by the master after the men refused to provide steam either to unload the cargo or return to sea. The spokesman for the men said they refused to unload because Vancouver was classified as an unfair port owing to the longshore strike. One of their number, Arthur MacKenzie, was taken to hospital shortly after arrival, and the crew refused to take the ship out short-handed. The cargo was discharged by the new unio# recognised by the British Columbia Shipping Federation. Officials of the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand, said that the crew made no objection when the cargo was loaded, though they knew it was destined for Vancouver. If an objection had been made the Vargo, which was partly perishable, including dried fruits and canned foods, would not have been loaded. The company’s spokesman said that the men were within their rights in refusing to go to sea shorthanded, but efforts to bring the crew up to full strength were met with a refusal by the men, resulting in the captain swearing out warrants. The officers and stewards arc still aboard. MacKonzic > suffering from appendix trouble, bat an operation has not been performed- He is progressing well and expects to leave hospital in a few days.