VESSELS HELD UP

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 253, 21 July 1919, Page 11

VESSELS HELD UP

CREWS WANT THEIR PEACE CELEBRATIONS. By .TolcETapii.—Press Association. Christchurch,- July 18. The ferry.steamer Mararoa was held up nt Lyttellon this evening, owing to her' crew's refusal to- eail, consequent upon the men's desire to celebrate peace in Christcluvreh. The "Union Company was given an assurance by the union that tho men would proceed to sea 011 condition that they received an estra day's pay or extra day's leave. Upon tho vessel's crew announcing their intention this morning to remain ashore, the local ,• secretary of the Seamen's Union telegraphed to Wellington stating the position to tho union's officials, who in their turn telegraphed back advising the crew to sail. Nothing, however, would induce the crew to leavo for Wellington, some of them jocularly remarking .that the /King's instructions' were that they should celebrate peace, and they would consequently taku contrary orders from no one else. Lator. Tho Union Company's Navna, which was to have sailed to-day was also held up for the same reason ae the Mararoa, but it i-i understood that the' Tofua's men aleo objected to sail because the vessel was to be dispatched for Newcastle, a port affected by the eeamon'e strike*. Tho coastal steamer Mnnaro.i will remain in port until after the peaco celebrations, her crew having also dc\ cided to stay ashore to participate in the demonstration. The Arahura is tied up at Auckland during the peace celebrations owing to tho crow refusing to work. CoMequentlv the vessel will miss the usual Monday trip from Napier to Gisborne. living to tho peace celebrations the Pateena's crew could not be induced to take the vessel out of Onehunga on Saturday or yesterday. The vessel is now-to lcayo Onehunga at noon to-mor-row, and will arrive hero on Wednesday. She is to sail for the northern port again on Thursday at noon,.