ANOTHER STEAMER HELD UP.

Taihape Daily Times, 16 January 1919, Page 5

ANOTHER STEAMER HELD UP.

I FIREMEN WANT THIRTY ' SHILLINGS A DAY. i \ LINER KENT DELAYED. | WELLINGTON, aJnuary 16. ‘ i The Blackball Company’s steamer Ngatoro is held up similarly to the Maori, the firemen asking thirty shillings a day, which the owners regard as exorbitant. Some of the meia who were to have joined as firemen put in no appearance. The Ngatoro is to bring coal from Grcymouth to bunker the liner Kent, now loading here for Loudon. The delay is an expensive matter for the Kent, i Acircular to the members of the Wellington District Marine Engineers’ Institute indicates at a recent meeting very unsatisfactory conduct of firemen, greasers and trimmers. It was considered the engineers’ life under the conditions now prevailing has foecome unbearable. The following resolutio was. adopted: “Engineers are not be instructed not to proceed to sea unless two watches of firemen, greasers, and trimmers are capable of duty and satisfactory arrangements made that \ men of the two capable watches do the work of the incapable men.” This decision is expected to lead to interesting developments. When firemen are receiving higher wages than many engineers the iatter cannot be < expected to continue to carry out tho ! part of firemen’s jobs much longer.

SIR JAMES ALLEN’S MESSAGE. AUSTRALIANS STAGGERED. AT THEIR GOVERNMENT’S ATTITUDE. WELLINGTOTN, this day. Sir James Allen has informed the Australian Government that it is impossible to saddle the Admiralty with the expense of transporting the stranded Australians. If * the Government chooses to indemnify the Admiralty and agents against the loss the Ulimaroa will be allowed to call at Melbourne, and if no reply is received by this morning tbe idea will be dropped. The steamer lias to take away troops from Mesopotamia before the hot season sets in, and cannot be delayed without risk of fever and loss of life. The Australians here are staggered at their Government’s attitude. SHIPPING TROUBLE SETTLED. MOEEAKI SAILS TO-DAY. SYDNEY, January 15. According to tbe management of the Union Company, the shipping trouble has ended. A cable was received this afternoon from the head office accepting the terms agreed upon at the Sydney conference.. It is further stated that the first steamer for New Zealand will sail to-morrow This is the Mooraki. which is advertised to leave at noon, and for which passages are being booked. Tickets are now being issued for other steamers, which will leave in due course The men will hold a formal meeting to-morrow morning, after which idle vessels will bo manned. PURTHER .PARTICULARS. SYDNEY, # January 35. To-morrow morning’s meeting of seamen will finally decide whether the difficulty is to be settled The secretary of the Seamen’s Union anticipates acceptance of the agreement, and the return of crows id the vessels, The agreement now provides for a fixed advance under given conditions, in place of the proposed bonus. to which the seamen took exception. The Mooraki and Makura are advertised to sail for New Zealand, and the Ahi a for Fiji, to-morrow afternoon.