SHIPPING LAID UP.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1921, Page 7

SHIPPING LAID UP.

SLACKNESS IN TRADE. MANY BOATS IDLE. The falling off of the passenger traf(l? in the Auckland coastal trade has resulted in the Northern Steam Ship Company laying up four of its steamers. The Waimarie, which formerly ran in the Auckland-Kopu trade in conjunction with the Taniwha, has been taken off this run. The Chelmsford, which was put on as an extra boat in the Aiick-land-Whangarei passenger and cargo service, has been laid up, and also the Kotiti, which was employed in the Auckland-Matakana trade. Owing to the falling off in cargo traffic the Union Steam Ship Company has the Maunganui, Monowai, Mokoia, Pateena. ,Te Anau, Moana, Wahine, and several other vessels lying idle at Port Chalmers, the Takapuna at Wellington, and the Talune at Auckland. The Navua, which arrived from the Eastern Pacific Islands on Thursday with a cargo of fruit, will also be laid up At this port after she has completed her discharge o-f fruit and rock phosphates. Generally speakihg, ship-owners are retaining those vessels which are most economical to run, and lying up others which, although perhaps faster, are more costly and hold less cargo. The paying off of so maijy vessels has resulted in many seamen, firemen, and stewards being thrown out of employment, and there is no difficulty in manning the steamers now running. An instance of this was given last week when the Riverina was about to leave for Sydney. A fireman was arrested on board the vessel, and immediately he left the ship four firemen applied for his job.