SOUTH ISOLATED.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1922, Page 5

SOUTH ISOLATED.

LYTTELTON DISLOCATION. NO CONNECTION WITH NORTH. AEROPLANES SUGGESTED;. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Nov. IT. The following are the vessels at Lyttelton affected by the trouble: Wahine, Wanaka, Kato, Wingatui, Kaikorai, Kokiri, Karori, Canopus, and Cygnet. The following are the boats in port not yet affected: Wakatu, Progress, and Breeze. The Breeze is due to sail to-night for Dunedin and it is probable that her crew will sign off there and she will be laid up. The crew of the Cygnet gave notice this morning. The Kamona is due on Monday from Greymouth with bunker coal for H.M.S. Chatham, and this vessel is not yet affected. The transport of exhibits for the New Zealand Industrial Exhibition, which will be opened at Christchurch next week, will be only slightly affected by the strike, most of the exhibits already having reached Christchurch. Even if the strike continues Home liners are not likely to be affected seriously. These vessels are under London articles and the members of the crews are nqt governed by the award which is the source of the trouble. A certain amount of inconvenience will be caused in regard to transhipment to and from the smaller ports, but very little difficulty would he experienced as far as Canterbury was concerned. The local manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company stated it would not be possible for any of the Home liners to carry ferry passengers between Wellington and Lyttelton, as the men are signed on under London articles, and he said the boats are not permitted to trade between New Zealand ports, unless the New Zealand rates of wages are paid. “You may regard it as that Home liners would not carry ferry passengers, even if the trouble was prolonged,” he added. If stranded northerners can get back to the North Island by no other means an opportunity will be extended to them to fly from Christchurch to Wellington. Mr. Climie, organiser of the Canterbury Progress League, told a reporter this afternoon that Captain Ewan Dickson, of the Canterbury Aviation Company, is prepared, if necessary, and if the demand justifies it, to place the company’s machines at the service oi the public to convey passengers to Wellington. Christchurch, Last Night.

The little steamer Wakatu left Lyttelton for Wellington at 10.20 last night, taking 29 passengers, about 50 tons of mails, and 57 tons of much needed flour. There was considerable competition for the coveted berths. The turf was well represented, several owners and jockeys being anxious to get back to the North Island. Quite a crowd gathered on the wharf to see the little vessel off, and there was touch good natured chaff and facetious advice as she pulled out. It is expected the Wakatu’s crew will give notice at Wellington to-morrow. So far the Canterbury Shipping Company’s three steamers —Calm, (Breeze and Storm —are not affected by the trouble. It is expected the war sloop Veronica, which arrived from sea this morning, will take mails to Wellington on Monday night. H.M.S. Chatham will take mails to Wellington on Tuesday night and also convey Lord and Lady Jellicoe. Some seamen at Lyttelton state it is not so much the reduction in wages as the alteration in the conditions that is being fought. Some men make no secret of the fact that they are not in favor of the strike, but are acting under the coercion of the more militant section. AT DUNEDIN, THE TROUBLE SPREADING. CORINNA HELD UP. Dunedin, Last Night. The shipping trouble is spreading here. The whole of the crew on the Corinna, from Lyttelton to Dunedin, gave notice when coming south, and on arriving at Dunedin at 8.40 a.m. on Saturday the men left the vessel. The Kamo, from Oamaru, arrived at 11.20 •p.m. on Saturday. As it was necessary to renew articles at Dunedin, the vessel going with mails and cargo to the Chathams, the crew sgined off. No trouble has been experienced on the Holmdale, which arrived at Dunedin this morning from Wellington. The vessel is to leave on Tuesday night for Wanganui, via ports.

The Kaitoke, Waikouaiti, Corinna, and Kamo are now tied up at Dunedin. Owing to the strike Donaghy’s rope works were obliged to take a quantity of rope for the Corinna back to the works. The output at the works will probably be considerably reduced if the shipping trouble continues, and if it is a lengthy struggle, they may close down for a short period. Several # departments in one or two large confectionery manufacturers’ works nave closed down. The position will be relieved on arrival by train at Dunedin to-night or to-mor-row of 200 tons of sugar ex Katoa at Lyttelton. The New Zealand Express Company here has given its employees a week’s notice, but other local carrying concerns are not yet affected. WESTPORT CUT OFF. Westport, Nov. 11. The articles of the crew of the Komata, a combined passenger boat and collier, expired at midnight, and as insufficient crew was available to take the boat back to Wellington the company have paid off all hands. NAPIER CREWS GIVE NOTICE. ‘Napier, Nov. 11. The crews of the coastal steamers Fanny, Tearoha, 'Ruru, and Koau gave notice to-dav and will be paid off on Monday. the action taken is not popular with the seamen, who are apparently acting according to instructions. MAIL TRANSPORT ARRANGED. Wellington, Nov. 11. Arrangements have been made by the Postal Department to meet the mail difficulty created by the stoppage of the ferry service between the North and South Islands. There will be no boat for Lyttelton to-night, but

letters will be sent forward via Picton, the passage across the Strait being made by the Ngaio leaving this evening for Nelson. The authorities have arranged for the general mail to be brought from the South by H.M.S. Chatham on Tuesday. The proposal to use the Tutanekai between the North and South Islands cannot be put into effect immediately as the vessel is at present making a trip around the southern lighthouses. PICTON—‘CHRISTCHURCH MOTOR SERVICE. Christchurch. Noy. 11. It is officially announced that the Wakatu will carry mails to Wellington to-night, and mails from Wellington will be landed in Picton to-night and motored South. HELD UP IN AUSTRALIA. PASSENGERS AND MAILS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Received Nov. 12, 5.5 p.m. Sydney. Nov. 12. The 'sailing of the Moeraki has been cancelled and the passengers, luggage and perishable cargo were transferred from Neutral Bay in ferries to the shore. The mails are still on the steamer, in expectation that the dispute will soon be settled, but otherwise they will be transferred to the Ulimaroa, which is expected to sail for New Zealand on Saturday. As the crew of the latter are on Australian articles no trouble is anticipated. Thirty-one members of the crew of the Waikawa have been arrested and charged with refusing duty. They will appear at tile Court on Monday.