WAIPIATA HELD UP

Evening Star, Issue 19781, 3 February 1928, Page 7

WAIPIATA HELD UP

CREW HAVE A GRIEVANCE DISMISSAL OF TWO TRIMMERS Because two trimmers were dismissed the sailors and firemen of the cargo carrier Waipiata have refused to take the vessel to sea, and the Union Company boat is now lying idle at the Birch street wharf. The Waipiata arrived at Dunedin from Auckland, via Lyttelton, on Wednesday morning, and it was then that the two trifmmers were dismissed. Their fellow-workers objected to this action, and when the company called for men to fill the vacancies the trimmers held aloof, although only a few days ago reports were current that many finer men and seamen were idle in Dunedin.

The dismissed men were given notice after the vessel left Lyttelton. Yesterday the seamen and firemen packed into the small office of the Seamen’s Union in Crawford street, and after a long discussion resolved to decline to man the steamer unless the two trimmers were reinstated. When this decision was made known loading operations by the wjitersiders were ceased at 3 p.m. A large quantity of cargo for northern ports had already been loaded.

Instructions were issued last night to give the remainder of the crew twentyfour hours’ notice, and the order was placed in the fo castle. Unless the crew’s full complement is made to-day members of the crew at present on board will have to leave their berths. When a ‘ Star ’ man called at the union office this morning the door was locked. A knock brought a man to the door, and he answered that the secretary was “very busy.” A meeting of the seamen was in progress. “Is there anything definite to report about the meeting,”'the secretary was asked later in the morning. “No,” he replied. “I can give no report to the Press of the meeting.” The secretary was asked to confirm the report of the facts of the hold-up. He stated that the report was not altogether correct, but he declined to give a correct version. Enquiries at the Union Company’s office this morning elicited the information that no further action had been taken, although the company was endeavoring to arrange a settlement of the dispute. No work was done on the Waipiata to-day by the watersiders, although it was apparent that steam was being kept up. If the vessel’s departure is held up, arrangements will probably be made to forward the Dunedin cargo for northern ports and also cargo for Oamaru, Timaru, and Lyttelton booked for the Waipiata by another steamer. Owing to the delay demurrage charge will have to be paid on the cargo by the company, while considerable inconvenience has also been caused to shippers. ■ .