HARBOURING DESERTERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 29, 3 February 1905, Page 2

HARBOURING DESERTERS.

SCOW HAND FINED. Charles Manson, a foreigner, employed on the Auckland scow Talisman, was prosecuted by the Marine Department before Mr H. S. Wardell, S.M., this morning for wilfully harbouring two seamen who had deserted from the steamer Tomoana. He pleaded guilty. Mr S. "Mays, who represented the Crown Prosecutor, stated that the accused and a man named Johansen went to the Tomoana with a boat, and took away the baggage of two of the crew who deserted. The baggage was found on the scow Talisman and seized by the Customs. Manson harboured the seamen, who had now disappeared. The Tomoana lost eight men similarly during her stay in Auckland, and the action of men like th* accused gave the port a bad name. Desertions of foreigners were very frequent, as they left to get the higher coastal wages on the scows, 72 per cent, of the crews of which were foreigners. The case was brought to warn others who carried on the same practice. Manson said he had not seen the men since their desertion, and was not aware of the law on the subject. "You may think you are doing a kindness to those men, but you do it at your own risk," remarked the magistrate, who fined Manson £1 and costs amounting to 28/.