THE COASTAL STEAMER HOLD-UP

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3198, 24 September 1917, Page 6

THE COASTAL STEAMER HOLD-UP

UNION OFFICIALS T(TBE PROSECUTED CHARGE OF INCITING A SEDITIOUS STRIKE An importiinfc development look place 011 Saturday morning in connection with the strike of seamen employed on the smnllor steamers trading out of Wellington, when it became known that summonses liad been served on Mr. T. Young, general secretary of the Federated Seamen's Union, a.ud I!. Howell (assistant secretary of the same body), charging them with a breach of the War Regulations, to wit, allegedly inciting a seditious strike. The summonses were issued on Friday, and were served on the two men by Detective' Kearney. Tketfation is being taken, bv the Croivn, and the cases will be heard, before the Stipendiary Magistrate on Thursday next. _ Several persons associated Wfith the shipping business, and concerned in tjib strike, have been subpoenaed by tho Crown as witnesses. The new development 'has created great intorest on the waterside. Other than the news about the prosecution of the strike leaders, thoro is nothing to report in connection with th« strike. A littlo later tho stoppage ot tho sailing of the small steamers would have been a very serious mattor for coastal farmers in. the habit of shipping their wool' clips by sea. The vessels are accustomed to call in at tho roadsteads near these stations alone the coast in the wool seasons, and take off the clip in surf-boats when the weather pernnt3. The heuip and coal trades havo also been affected by the hold-up. OPAWA SAILS WST"FREE" CREW The Opawa, a vessel of 110 tons, saTUnl at 2.55 a.m. yesterday for Blenheim. The vessel was manned by a "free crew and did not have an extra man for the The owners, Messrs. T. Dckford and Co., Blenheim, bave been trying to obtain a crew to tako the vessel to Blenheim, where slfo'will be cleaned and painted. On Saturday afternoon no crew had been engaged, and her sudden departure has aroused interest and surprise. Apart from the sailing of tlie Opawa tliere was nothing- further to report in connection with the hold-up.