MAORI HELD UP

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 207, 27 May 1919, Page 4

MAORI HELD UP

FIREMEN REFUSE DUTY No ferry steamer sailed for Lyttoltoa last night" through the firemen on tire Maori making trouble. The departure of the vessel was. at 10 o'clock postponed until 3 o'clock this afternoon. In a statement to a Dominion reporter Mr. W. A. Kennedy, manager of the Wellington branch of the Union Company, said that the Maori was only ono man short of ljer full stokehold complement, ■ and so manned was ready at 7.15 p.m. to sail for Lyttelton at reduced boiler pressure. To all entreaties to be reasonable and realise their public duty to the passengers, the men turned a deaf'car. Un» less the ship carried lier complete number of firemen and trimmers they would not take her from the wharf* As an excuse for their action they .said that the vessel is unsafe steaming' 1 at a rey duced speed, which is, of course, preposterous. The men were unyielding their decision, und refused absolutely i:o sail without there "being a Ml crew, of qualified worlcers on the drip,, Faced as they were, the Union Company had no alternative 'but to tastpone her sailing until this afternoon.!* Passengers, after a long and tedious wait forth® decision, hud to come Dishore again, and many were pnt to inco.nvcnienee as a result. ' , \