RUAHINE AND KENT SAIL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2946, 8 October 1925, Page 2

RUAHINE AND KENT SAIL

FIRST OVERSEAS MOVEMENT SINCE STRIKE BEGAN.

Auckland, October 7

The first overseas steamer to dear a New Zealand port since the strike of British seamen commenced seven weeks ago is the Ruahine, which sailed from Auckland for London this evening. She was a full ship, carrying a cargo of produce valued at’ well £BOO,OOO. With u single exception, her cargo of bntjer is the largest ever lifted by a single vessel leaving a New Zealand port, and is worth, on to-day’s pri-.-cs, (he princely sum of 0780,000. She carries as well 9000 tons of other cargo, all primary products. The Ruahine, which had been taken into the stream on Tuesday night, required 13 men to complete her complement. There was no diftirull vin securing these, and they were taken off in a launch a I ■> .'’clock this evening with.ml a\ T' ministrations by the strikers. Forty of the Rualiine’s crew had not .joined the strikers, and being an oil burner slie does not carry firemen, but lmd more men been required there would have been no difficulty in (hiding llicm. The extra men signed on arc stated to be nearly all discharged seamen. Since the con fere: ••(■ Ind ween the owners and strikers’ representatives and (In' Prime Minister in Wellington failed, (he owners have taken active steps to get the idle vessels to sea. Although if was only on Tuesday afternoon (hat the failure of the negotiations was known, the owners’ policy of action bore first fruit within flic twenty-four hours, the Federal steamer Kent sailing to-day at noon for Wellington. The extra hands to man her were chiefly cadets from the Devon. Six hours after, the Runhino had sailed for London, and fresh developments may be expected from day to day. Four seamen from the steamer Devon wore charged in the Magistrate's Court to-day with being absent from the ship without leave. They expressed willingness to return to (lie ship and an order was made accordingly, with costs.