MORE TROUBLE ON S.S. MAORI.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1585, 31 October 1912, Page 4

MORE TROUBLE ON S.S. MAORI.

SOME FIREMEN'S CONDUCT,

TRYING TIME FOR ENGINEERS.

(By Telesrapli— Soecial CorresDondrat.l Christchurch, October 30. Tho "Press" publishes a somewhat lengthy article dealing with the meu on the Union Company's . boats, in the course of which it says that, while a large proportion are sober, steady, and wellbihaved seamen, there are ninny—especially amongst tho firemen—to whom a "pay day" is absolutely demoralising.

Shipmasters and engineers endeavouring j to work amicably and tactfully with the men under their'command, are complaining that the discipline which is absolutely essential to the safe working and navigation of their ships, is becoming almost a "deed letter," so truculent is the attitude adopted by a section of tho men. Drunkenness and desertion amongst the iiremoji are becoming painfully frequent offenccs. Officers and engineers, who are in many cases drawing less money at the end of tho month than their sailors and firemen, have to submit, with tho best grace possible, to insulting language from men under tho influence of drink, and liavo little or no redress. Their instructions from their employers are to use all possible "tact" with" the men, who, in numerous instances, when under the influence of liquor, openly float the authority of the officers and engineers.

Some revelations made to a representative of the "Press" disclosed a serious state of affairs on board the ferry steamer Maori within the past few days. At Wellington on Friday the firemen demanded two days' pay when signing off the timeexpired articles and re-engaging on tho new articles. The task of signing on the men was not completed until 7 p.m. Several of the firemen were drunk when they joined the steamer between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., and, in the meantime, the chief engineer had had to get a shoro gang to clean the fires and raiso steam ready for departure. Tho Maori left Wellington Wharf at 8 p.m. The weather was 'fine when she left, but she had not, been under way an hour when tho southerly hurricane struck her in the strait. Some of the firemen wero drunk and incapable of performing their duties, and tho junior engineers had to go into the stokeholds and assist in firing. During the midnight to 4 a.m. watch, tho fifth engineer—a big, powerful young man—had to keep ail the Ikes ill the foreward stokehold going single-handed, with one fireman wanting to fight him and others howling curses at him The Maori had to fight her way to Lyttelton against the gale for 17 hours, with her engineers dividing their attention between their engines and keeping steam up in the boilers. The chief engineer, who had been without sleep for two days, and indeed for the best part of the week, and with many worries on his mind (culminating in the outbreak on the part of his firemen on Friday night), collapsed on arrival at Lyttelton, and had to go ashore on sick leave.

More trouble came on Monday, when the Maori hud to mako an excursion trip front Wellington to Picton. The liremen's watches were set at midnight on Sunday, the men being required to raise steam and clean fires for (ho start at 7.45 a.m. When sailing time came, one fireman reeling about the wharf called out to some of his mates who were leaning over the rail: "Are you going, boys?" And they replied, condescendingly, "Oh, yes, we'll go." The Maori was delayed until 8 a.m., and even then the steitin pressure was below requirements; and, although she had a strong, favourable tide with her, she was 3J hours on the run to Picton. A' number of the firemen went ashore there, but shortly afterwards, two wero carried on board intoxicated. Another, under the influence of liquor, went in for a swim, but, after hurting himself on tho rocks and taking cramp, had to be fished out and put into his bunk. On the return (rip to Wellington a number made themselves very objectionable amongst the passengers on the foredeck. Facing tho officers on the bridge, these v men took up a very truculent attitude, nourishing bottles of beer and drinking from them. * The officers were powerless to interfere, as the men were in a fighting mood, /and it was not desirable to make a worse sceno on thei decks with 1000 passengers on board.

The Maori was three and three-quarter hours covering the 54 miles from Picton to Wellington with a partly favourable tide, want' of steam pressure in the boilers owing to tho conduct of the firemen keeping her speed down to 14 knots instead of 18 or 19 knots. Owing to her late arrival, the Maori was delayed in leaving Wellington for Lyttelton for forty minutes.

Two firemen alfeonded, and sent a telegram to the chief engineer, saying that they could not go in the ship. The chief' engineer had then to go ashore and managed to get lour men. He put three of his trimmers as firemen, and, by taking a sober, steady man from another watch, mado np his complement of five firemen and three trimmers for the 8 p.m. (o midnight watch. Still short of steam, tho Maori left "Wellington at 8.40 p.m., and although the weather was fine, and tho sea smooth, and she had good coal, the steamer could' not work up to anything near full speed, and she did not reach Lyttelton' wharf until 7.40 a.m. yesterday, and consequently missed her connection with the first • express for tho south. The vessel was capablo of arriving at C.30 a.m. had sho had tho steam.