THE AORANGP'S "SCRATCH" FIREMEN.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14889, 31 January 1914, Page 6

THE AORANGP'S "SCRATCH" FIREMEN.

TBOUBLE ON THE RUN TO SAN FRANCISCO. (t&XSS ASSOCIATION TIIXCRAU.) ,_ WELLINGTON, January 30. On her last run from Wellington to San Francisco the "scratch" crow of firemen which had signed on the Aorangi, in consequence of tho striko, failed to give anything liko satisfaction. Somo of thorn caused a great doal of trouble on board, and wero responsible for much unpleasantness. Thoso facts were gathered to-day when the vessel arrived back from tho American port. The Aorangi arrived at Wellington from Sydney on December 4th last, when the strike was still at its height, and after somo delay sailed for San Francisco early on Sunday morning, December 7th—two days late. Mo6t of tho firemen and trimmers, somo of whom signed on at Sydney and' others at Wellington, were amateurs, and it seems they did not take at all kindly to tho work. They did their duties well for a start, but soon the work became monotonous, and there were signs of "that lired feeling." Th© engineers had to keep tho men "at it" all the time, and even they failed to get satisfactory results. Feeling on board was not of tho best, and there were threats of moro serious behaviour. When Papeete was reached, so a IJ Posl" reporter was informed, most of tho men left the ship, with tho evident intention of having "a day ont." They ha_ it, and were not in their places when tho boat was ready to eail. Many became intoxicated, it is alleged, and it was with some difficulty that they were eventually placed on board. The statement that a revolver had to be used i» denied. Tbo men continued to work unsatisfactorily for , the remainder of the ran. On axriv v al at San Francisco th« majority of the men who had caused the trouble stated that they had bad enough of the ship, and jumped at tbe opportunity to sign off. No obstacles were placed in their way, and no difficulty was experienced m filling their places, consequeigfy the Aorapgi shipped practically a . new crew of firemen and trimmers. Tho Union Company was under no obligation to bring the other men back to their home ports, aa they signed off of their own accord. j