First Effects Of Strike

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31113, 16 July 1966, Page 22

First Effects Of Strike

(N.Z. Fret* Association) AUCKLAND, July 14. The British seamen’s strike hit the port of Auckland today. Only 13 berths were filled by overseas ships and coasters—just half the cap- ! acity of the port. I “We realised that this would happen sooner or later,” said the harbourmaster, Captain R. H. Carter. “It’s a natural sequel.” This morning 17 ships were berthed, but four sailings cut the number to 13. Yesterday 17 were berthed, 18 on Tuesday and 20 on Monday. Tomorrow there will be three arrivals and three departures. By Saturday there will be no British ships in port, whereas normally there are six or eight

Bugs Eating Plastic. — Scientists in Britain have discovered a new strain of bugs which threaten to do to plastic what rust has been doing to iron for centuries. The National Physical Laboratory says that it has discovered i four types of plastic-eating I micro-organisms little more than one thousandth of a millimetre long. They turn the elasticity-producing chemical agent into carbon to fatten themselves up, the scientists say. Under favourable conditions. the micro-organisms can, in a fortnight, achieve a very significant change in any piece of plastic which they attack. —Reuter.