A NEW ZEALAND ARMY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3403, 6 February 1920, Page 5

A NEW ZEALAND ARMY.

fl TO SAIL FOR FIJI. ‘ -- v ‘ ‘ AUCKLAND, this day. The Tutanckai left for Fiji at 10 minutes past 12 (midnight). ATTEMPT TO "HOLD UP THE TUTANEKAI. ; WATERSIDERS AND FIREMEN 5 TROUBLESOME. i AUCKLAND, Feb. 5. 3 Attempts were made in Auckland to—‘ {day to prevent the Tutanekai, which iarrived from Wellington this morning ‘sailing for Fiji with a military force. Trouble appeared early in -the morn'ing. The Tutanekai carried enough coal to make Fiji in fine weather, but it was desired to load another 70 tons .as a safeguard against hurricanes, lwhich may be expected about this searson. A hulk, therefore, was brought)" jalongside at 10 o'clock. but no labour gwag forthcoming, the wlatersidei-5’ ‘ chief reasonapparently being that the vessel was engaged on a strike-breal<~ in-g expedition. It was also »app'3.rent: from remarks on Ithe Wharf, that some of the watersiders resented the proposals to take coal from Auckland. The authorities decided -that the vessel should sail without coal, the time fixed being 5 p.m. Shortly before that hour a deputation of firemen waited on Captain Post and demanded their discharges. The spokesman said that when they signed on at Wellington~‘ they had not been informed that the ship was to carry soldiers to Fiji. The firemen were informed that they would have to abide by the articles. Major Puttick explained that his orders were to see that. Hindoos did not destroy life and the property of Europeans. ’He asked whether the firemen were prepared to hamper the sailing of the ship when Europeans in Fiji were endangered. The firemen retired, declaring that they would not work. Volunteers were called from among -The soldiers to work in the stokehold, and there appeared to be no difliculty in getting a team. The steamer remained at the wharf, however, and it tl-‘an.--pired that the seamen were faced with. the difficulty of serving with non-union firemen, and apparently they had to reg ceive permission from the union. This permission was obtained. VVhen the firemen left the ship they were all arrested and taken to the wharf police station,~where, after receiving an assurance that the force was proceeding to Fiji for the sole purpefe of protecting Europeans, they agreed to return to the ship.