MARAMA SAILS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 134, 27 August 1927, Page 9

MARAMA SAILS

MAHENO STILL DELAYED SYDNEY SHIPPING HOLD-UP By Cable. —Press Association.—Copyright Reed. 1.40 p.m. SYDNEY, To-day. When the time arrived for the Marama to leave port this morning, the stewards and cooks, with men from the Maheno, went aboard and held a meeting. Later they came ashore and announced that the vessel would not sail. Shortly after, however, the Marama’s men went aboard alone, held a meeting, and decided to sail. As preparations were made to cast off, the Maheno’s men endeavoured to persuade the Marama’s crew to leave the ship, but the police cleared the wharf. The Marama sailed at 10.45. The steamer Waikouaiti, which has been held up since yesterday as a result of the same trouble, sailed a few minutes later for Bluff. No change has yet occurred on the Maheno, but negotiations are proceeding.

DISPUTE WITH STEWARDS SYDNEY, Friday. The Maheno and the Marama, which were due to leave Sydney yesterday for Auckland and Wellington respectively, were delayed, through action by the stewards and cooks on the Maheno, who refused to go to sea until the chief steward and second steward were replaced. The men alleged that the officials objected to were harsh and unjust in their dealings with the crew. When it was found the men refused duty the company announced the postponement of the sailing of the Maheno until three o’clock this afternoon, but at that time the stewards, dressed in mufti, walked ashore, to the shouts of encouragement from the remainder of the crew. The passengers were then given the option of transferring to the Marama, which was due to sail at four o’clock. The Maheno stewards then sought the sympathy of the Marama stewards, who also decided to cease work. It is understood the strikers communicated with the union officials in New Zealand, who expressed themselves opposed to the action of the strikers, whom they advised to return to work. Finally a settlement was reached.—A. and N.Z.