SAILING DELAYED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26627, 25 November 1947, Page 4

SAILING DELAYED

MEN WALK OFF SHIP DISPUTE ON MAUI POMARE P.A. AUCKLAND, Nov. 24. A dispute on board the Government motor vessel Maui Pomare immediately before she was due to sail for Rarotonga, Aitutaki and Niue Islands late this afternoon resulted in her sailing being postponed. After the master, Captain L. C. Boulton, had refused to give a guarantee that a launch at Rarotonga would be available to take the crew ashore there in the event of the ship arriving on Sunday, 12 men of the deck and engine room staffs walked ashore. With her 22 passengers and cargo on board and with Customs and police clearances complete, the Maui Pomare was ready to sail about 5.30 p.m., when the men waited on the captain with their request. It was explained that, because the launch at Rarotonga was owned by the Union Steam Ship Company and because its native crew did not work .on Sundays, no guarantee could be given. The men are. stated to have left the ship after stating that they intended to-morrow to' 'Cohimumcate with the Union Company in* Auck--13 When the delay in the departure was announced, some of the passengers decided to spend the night a ®‘ lor f‘ Others, however, remained on board, and because the ship’s stewards were not concerned in the dispute, the passengers were able to be accommodated without difficulty. No time has been fixed for the Maui Pomare’s departure. It is hoped, however, thaj; a settlement may be reached. , . The secretary of the Seamen s Union in Auckland, Mr T F. Anderson had no comment to make when asked to make a statement on the dispute.