THE HOLD-UP THAT FAILED.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1917, 27 November 1913, Page 8

THE HOLD-UP THAT FAILED.

ON S.S. MAUNGANUL FIREMEN & SAILORS COME OUT. SHIP RE-MANNED. AND SAILS FOR LYTTELTON. About 8 o'clock last night the firemen of the Maungauui came ashore with their baggage, and announced to the Union Company officials that they were not going to work the ship while she remained m the ferry ■service. 'This step was promptly followed by an argument between firemen and seamen of the vessel. It took place on tho Queen's Wharf, and. but for police intervention,, would probably have ended in blows. A few minutes after the argument had concluded, and during a heavy pour o! rain, the seamen a"l?o came ashore, much against their wish.

Trimmers Start the Trouble, When the Maunganui first entered tho Lyttelton-Weilington ferry service, tho firemen, trimmers, and stokers hold a iiicoiing, at which it was unanimously decided to remain loyal and to work tho ship, provided no cargo other than, passengers' luggage w»s carried, but to leave the ship at Sydney if it were necessary. This decision was arrived at in consequence of instructions received bv the men from the secretary of the Sydney Seamen's Union. Since this mooting everything en the vessel has been running smoothly. Nothing in tho interim had suggested trouble till yesterday at 1 p.m., and aftor tho vessel had been running in the ferry service for some days, when thirteen of her firemen arid trimmers notified tho Union Company that they, were not going to "work ship" while sho remained in"tho Lyttelton-Wellington run. This lino of action was set 011 foot by 0110 or two of the trimmers, who (if the polico had not intervened) would probably have been roughly handled by the seamen. As the Maungaimi's men :ire under Sydney articles,- and arc therefore liable to imprisonment for absenting tneniselvos leave, warrants have been issued for their arrest.

Liability to Arrest. When, the firemen had como down the gangway, they piled their luggage on tho wharf, and then marched oif in a body. It is understood that they wero to have been arrested on the wharf, but on account of the warrants not being available for execution at the time, this course was allowed to Japse pro tern. One of the firemen, who remained behind to watch the luggage of his fellow workers, was cross-examined by the seamen, as to why the firemen had left tho ' vessel. The argument became very heated and one seaman, turning to a policeman, said: "It's all through him (indicating the liroman); we don't want to' "leave tho ship, lie's tho cause of tho wholo trouble." Tho police ordered tho crowd to move on, and for the time being developments appeared uncertain.

Call to Mar. the Ship. Hut it was not for long. The vacancies were quickly tilled by Arbilrationistt; who, as they inarched up the gangway, .said: "Will we hro trio Maii'n«alUii to Lyttelton?" This was iollowed by a unanimous cry of "Vcs." But the next question was: What would the seamen do : J It was soon obvious that thov would not work with the Arbitrationists and, one by one, they came down tho gangway with their luggage. This they stacked in a pile on the wharf. The rain poured down, heavily, but undismayed, the seamen brought their luggage ashore'and left it in the "pour." The defection of the seamen, however, did npt hold the big steamer at the wharf. Tho secretary of the new Waterside Workers' Union promptly called up a number of experienced men to fill the vacancies, and in an hour and a half 53 men were ready. They included officers, engineers, A.B.'s, and experienced firemen. After getting their luggage- on board and signing on for the trip, the new crew set to get up a full head of steam. At 10.15 p.m. everything war, ready, and jive minutes later the vessel backed out from the wharf amid cheers aiid "hoo-rays" from tho crowd.

Fireman's Statement, One of the firemen, Cyril M'Guire, made the following statement to a reporter: ."All the firemen-held a meeting yesterday afternoon, and it was decided to ask tho captain to refuso to take the Maunganui en tho ferry run; The firemen also decided to tell tho captain that they would work the ship, if he wero willing to take her back to Sydney. The captain would not qonsent to this, so so all walked ashoro with our gear. A crowd of ■ Arbitrationists then came aboard the vessel and the sailors walked ashore."