EAST COAST SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 296, 24 May 1915, Page 6

EAST COAST SERVICE.

THE WESTRALIA WITHDRAWN. Auckland, May 21. It is announced that tlie iluddart, Parker t'o.'s steamer Westralia is to be withdrawn from the New Zealand coastal service and is to relieve the Ulimaroa in the Sydney-Wellirigto nservice. When the vessel was in Auckland at the end of last month her departure for Sydney was delayed for some hours owing to trouble with the firemen and seamen. Concerning that trouble a statement was made yesterday by Mr. D. Ryan, the company's manager. In October last, Mr. Ryan explained, the Westralia was taken off the Sydney run ajid placed on the New Zealand coastal service under New Zealand articles. Towards the end of last month it was decided to send the steamer back to Australia, and consequently the company had to take out inter-colonial articles for her. When this was done the firemen and the sailors refused to sign on at the recognised rate of wages, namely, £lO per month for firemen and £8 per month for sailors. The former demanded £lB and the latter £ls for the run from Auckland to Melbourne, via southern ports, the time occupied in the trip being 12 days. The company offered in addition to the customary wage that in the event of the master discharging the men or of the ship being laid up in Australia, they would pay the men's passages back to New Zealand and also their wages up to the time of arrival. The offer was also refused. The position, said Mr. Ryan, was that the sTlip was loaded with cargo, including a quantity of "perishables," and finally the company had to accede to the men's demands. The effect was that they had to pay £li4o over and above the ruling rate of wages for that particular period of 12 days. Whi>" shipping companies were subject to such disabilities, Mr. "Ryan added, there was very little inducement for them to eater ■for the New Zealand coastal service trade.