COLLIERS LEAVE WESTPORT, BUT NOT GREYMOUTH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 167, 22 July 1946, Page 4

COLLIERS LEAVE WESTPORT, BUT NOT GREYMOUTH

Hopes that the collier Hohnlca had left Greymouth yesterday afternoon were dispelled last night when the “Chronicle” telephoned the West Coast port, only to learn that though several vessels hail departed front Westport, the Holinlea and th»iother ships, Poolta, Gabriella and Foxton, were still alongside the wliar, at Greymouth. In the meantime Wanganui’s gas supply is in a precarious condition, and with the water gas plant being shut down yesterday the output will be considerably reduced to-day. When a telephone call was put through to Greymouth last night, advice was received that though eight ships had cleared Westport that afternoon. none had left Greymouth. Four of them, including the Holmlea, were loaded and ready for sea, but their future movements were uncertain.

It is understood that the crews of these four ships, involved in the dispute over heat and lighting in the men’s quarters, will meet in Greymouth this morning and deride on what should be done in the future.

If the men agree to sail, the earliest that lhe ships can be despatched will be about three o'clock this afternoon, when it will be high water at Greymouth. In this event, the Holmlea would arrive at Castleeliff on Wednesday morning. It was also stated last night that the Greymouth bar was again workable yesterday afternoon, after being “patchy” since Friday, when heavy seas were running. The prospect of bar conditions being satisfactory today appeared to be good. Questioned about the supply position last night, the engineer and manager of the Municipal Gas Department. Mr. W. J. Stone, said that the watex* gas plant had been closed down that day. This was because of the utmost necessity fox- conserving supplies of coke which were used in the main retorts.

As a result of this plant being shut down, however, the output of the works would drop from about 636,000 cubic feet daily to approximately 480,000 cubic feet. The daily demand, if the gas were available, was U the vicinity of 650,000 cubic feet.

Mr. Stone said he hoped thr.t pressure would be normal this morning, but a complete shut off in the afternoon was again likely. These restrictions would be necessary till coal arrived, but stocks were so low that it may be necessary to obtain about 13 tons which had been promised from various parts of the city. Even if the Holmlea arrived on Wednesday, two days or so must elapse before the works were back to normal. The water gas plant would be operated again as soon as possible. In the meantime. Castlecliff is completely without gas, the supply having been cut off from that suburb at 6.30 on Saturday night. This was not done in order to supply the .cst of the city at the expense of Castlecliff, but because there was insufficient pressure to fill the holder there, said Mr. Stone. He had hopes, however, of being able to restore gas to Castlecliff by to-night. A Press Association message received from Westport last night stated that at the express request of the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) striking seamen had decided to take eight ships to sea on Sunday afternoon. The ships had been detained in Westport while their crews demanded continuous heat and lighting fox - their quarters.

It appeared that a deadlock mibht have been reached on Saturday when three members of the National Executive from Wellington attended a meeting of strikers and no decision was reached to take the ship<to sea. However, representatives of the Buller coal-miners conferred with the seamen last, evening and on receipt of a message from Mr. Fraser agreed to take the ships out. There are no indications that the claims were acceded to, but they will be further dealt with at a meeting of a special tribunal at Wellington. Ships which sailed between two and four o'clock yesterday were the Kaimai, Totara, Karu and Wingafui. foxWellington; the Karepo and Kartigi, for Auckland: the Rata, for New Plymouth, and the Titoki, for Nelson.