WANGANELLA SALVAGE

Chronicle (Levin), 28 January 1947, Page 5

WANGANELLA SALVAGE

-Press As&ociation •

Crews Of Tugs Make Demand For 17/ 6 Hourly UJGS LEAVE STRANDED L1NER

By Telegraph—

■ WELLINGTON, Jan. 28. It is reported that the crews of ihe three tugs Tia, KahanUi and rerawhiti are demanding 17s 6d an rour since salvage work conimenct 3d on the Wanganella, and a deadock has been reached. All three lave returned from the Wanganella. The Tia is carrying out /arious harbour duties and une Rahanui and Terawhiti are lying at 5'ueen's Wharf partly loaded witn ktlvage materials, but a large pyantity remains on the wharf. The Lahour Department has set !ip a tribunal, including represenbatives of the workers' uniori .and smployers. The tribunal is sittnig bhis morning. It is understood that the representatives of the men have given an assurance that if life is imperilled or an extreme crisis develops with the Wanganella, they are prepared to take the tugs out, but otherwise there is for the moment a complete stoppage. There was blue sky with a fresh northerly breeze blowing offshore ;bis morning, but a change to moderate southerly winds is forecast for this afternoon or early this evening. LATER. The Labour Department says. it has not set up a tribunal to hear the tugmen's case. An industrial committee is reported to have been hunTedly constituted to consider the demands, and meanwhile the tugs have not been engaged in transhipping necessary equipment and supplies to the Wanganella. This interruption to urgent work required in an emergency represents the most serious happening during the • salvage operations, and is understood to have aroused concern in Government circles. The Huddard Parker Company is not involved as owners of. the liner, the Terawhiti being owned by the Uniop Company, while the Wellington Harbour Board at Wanganui Harbour Board are the respective owners of the Toia and Kahunui. The Huddart Parker Company was described today as being in the position of "helpless onlooker and possibly a victim of the dispute." It was reported today that Mr. Praser visited Q'uecn's. Wharf last aight after the tugs had tied up, *'ut no cnnfirmaaon of this has been available so far. Yesterday's development came as a sensation. "The men just refused point-blank to start after 5 p.m.," stated an official. "Nothing would, shift them." Among the officials connected with the salvage operations there was this morning an air of gravity, contrasting sharply with the optimism which was apparent yesterday as a resuit of the progress made with the salvage preparations. Operations on the Wanganella have not yet been held up beeause of the loss of the tugs' serviee, but it is stated that operations are bound to be delayed within the space of a fow hours unless the trouble has ended.