COMEDY ON S.S. MARAROA.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1660, 29 January 1913, Page 6

COMEDY ON S.S. MARAROA.

FIIiEMEN AND "FOEEIGNER."Firomen and trimmers' doings have, b'scu before tho public very much of lato, The most recent episode' happened yestert (lay on tho ferry steamer Mararoa. : It appears that the officers of tho 'Maw roa had occasion to dismiss a fireman at Lyttelton. _. Tlio man was a Britisher, and a foreigner applied for and obtained tho vacant position. Tho new man was a financial member of tho Seamen's Union, and 1 was therefore entitled to tnko the position. Somo of the crew, however,* took oxcepv' tion to working with' a foreigner, although ho,was a duly-accredited .member of their own\ union. They asked that ho should be discharged, and, when., this was refused, nine firemen and .trimmers Big-\ nified their intention of leaving tho: steamer on hor arrival at Wellington yes. terday. The .strange part of tho matte* was that, amongst tho nine, were two other foreigners, and it is said that they wore just as,strenuously opposed to working with tho "foreigner" as their seven British mates. However, their notices, to leave the ship were accepted, and they signed off tho Mararoa yesterday after*', noon.

Word concerning this comedy , had reached Wellington almost: beforo the Mararoa yesterday morning, and wlion the ship camo alongsido there were fotir men at least who were quite ready to step into tho positions of the men. who were about to leave; Tho Union Com- - pauy's officials experienced no. difficulty ■» in procuring tho extra men, 'and tho Mararoa sailed for Lyttelton as U6ual last evening. . •'■■.:'.,., It is also stated that when tho situation / became generally known on tho waterfront, viz., that there were "some jobs> going on the Mararoa," fully twenty mea' applied for tho vacant positions.