WARNING TO SEAMEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 53, 2 March 1907, Page 7

WARNING TO SEAMEN.

Before Mr. Kettle, S.M, last night, a youth, named Robert Dison (19), described as an ordinary seaman, of the scow Surprise, was charged with fraudulently altering the certificate of his discharge as a seaman. Mr. Mays, the Crown Prosecutor, mentioned that the defendant altered the certificate of iiis discharge, on which lie was described as an ordinary seaman, to that of aa ablebodied seaman in order that he might avoid three years' service and be able to command higher wages. Defendant admitted the offence, and added that he did not know what possessed Mm to do such a thing. He had signed on to a ship which would leave Auckland that night. Mr. Kettle, in considering what .punishment to inflict upon the defendant, took into account his youthiulness, and, as he said, he did not want to make him a criminal by sending him to prison, only ordered defendant to pay the costs amounting to £2 9s; but remarked that if another similar case came before him he would inflict the full penalty of twelve months' imprisonment with hard labour, or a £100 fine. He warned the defendant not to do such a silly, but very wrong, thing like that again.