MAIL STEAMER HELD UP

Evening Star, Issue 21746, 14 June 1934, Page 15

MAIL STEAMER HELD UP

COOKS AND STEWARDS’ DISPUTE MAY SAIL FRIDAY [Pea United Press Association.l WELLINGTON, 1 June 13. The hold-up of the Union Company’s 11.M.5. Makura by the cooks and stewards continued to-day. Further meetings of the union were held this morning aiid ; during the 'afternoon. ; It is stated that again no decision was reached, and Mr Kennedy, secretary of the union, had no comment to make. Whether or not further meetings will be held to-morrow was not stated tonight, but a meeting has been called for Friday morning. Jt is understood that ’this- meeting has been called lo enable the • men from the Union Company’s liner 'Monowai, which is due at Wellington on Friday morning from Sydney via Auckland, to attend. No further move was made to-day by the Union Company to engage cooks and stewards for the Makura, and, it is understood that the’ union officials did not communicate with the company to-day. 1 In view of the meeting ’on ; Friday morning, it is not thought that the company will make any move again tomorrow to obtain men to man the Makura. In the meantime a royal mail, liner which by now should have been two days steaming on her way to San Francisco is still held up. The Makura has cargo both from Sydney, and Wellington, a heavy mail, and a number of passengers, including those who arrived at Wellington from Sydney by the Maunganui, waiting for her departure. The mails and passengers will, owing to the delay, possibly miss important overseas connections. Another aspect of the situation is that the Makura, which is running under mail contract, is engaged in an important dominion overseas service which has to face the keen competition of 'heavily-subsidised foreign ' mail And passenger liners. The Makura is now timed to leave Wellington ;, at 1 p.m. on Friday for San Francisco, via .Rarotonga and Papeete, but in view of the meeting of the Cooks and Stewards’ Union to be held on Friday morning it is not thought that it will be possible to despatch her then. The Maunganui will be shifted tomorrow morning to Clyde quay wharf, where she will undergo overhaul.. The Makura was to have moved to No. ‘2 Queen’s wharf to-day, but it is .understood she will now remain at Clyde quay wharf until the company receives definite advice from the union officials whether a crew will be made available or not. J