STEAMERS DELAYED

Hokitika Guardian, 4 January 1927, Page 1

STEAMERS DELAYED

UtOl Hf.K WITH CISKWS AT

AUCKLAND

AUCKLAND. .January 2. Three vessels were delayed in Auckland during the week-end owing to trouble with the crews, but eventually two of them were able to sail. Trouble over accommodation for the crew of the coastal steamer Gunbn'r prevented her from sailing for Gisborne and Napier on Saturday. The steamer is the latest addition to the local coasting licet, having recently been bought in Australia by an East Coast company. She reached Auckland irom Port Stephens on October 28th, and since then has been trading between Auckland and East Coast, ports. On December loth she was placed oil the slip at Freeman’s Bay. where she was overhauled, and alterations were made to the crew’s quarters. It is understood that everything was done to comply with the regulations for ships of iter class to the satisfaction of. the .Marine Department's surveyors. Alter coming oil the slip last. Tuesday the vessel loaded at King’s Wharf and a crew was engaged. The” crew was to have signed ou oil Friday afternoon, but at the last moment tilio captain was informed by the secretary of the Seamen’s Union that the men’s messroom would have to bo enlarged before the steamer could obtain a crew. In consequence the Gunbar was moved to Prince’s Whaif, where she is to remain until the trouble is settled.

The departure ol the I luddart-Paikei steamer Uliniaroa for Sydney on Friday was delayed for three and a-half hours. The vessel was scheduled to sail at H o’clock in the morning, but four firemen wore missing. Alter being located in an hotel in Queen Street, they sent word that they would join the steamer at noon. . However, it was 1 o’clock before they were taken to the wharf by the police in a taxi. The four men then refused to go on board because they‘objected to one of the other members of'the stokehold staff, and would not sail with him. The chief engineer and the Union’s delegate on hoard proved conclusively that the mail complained of was a financial member of the Union, and had joined the Uhmaroa ai Sydney by permission of the secretary there. However, the men remained ‘obdurate. They were informed by the police that they were liable to arrest for disobeying the master’s lawful commands, and eventually, after being assured that the matter would he settled satisfactory in Sydney, they went on board, and the steamer took her departure. The Union Company’s island steamer Tofua was also delayed by firemen on Friday afternoon, but eventually sailed for Fiji ail hour after scheduled time. The vessel was to sail at noon, but two of the stokehold staff were not on hoard. One of the men reached the steamer at half-past twelve. As the other could not he ton ml. a substitute was signed on in his place, and the steamer departed.