A DISSATISFIED CREW,

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 123, 25 May 1923, Page 5

A DISSATISFIED CREW,

TREATMENT ON U.S. SCHOONER. TWO SEAMEN GRANTED DISCHARGE. Dissatisfied with the treatment meted out to them on the American fourmasted schooner Forest Home, two seamen, Thomas Mullen and James Parkinson, applied to Mr. E. Page, S.M., for r.scission of their contract. The castwas commenced in the Magistrate's Court at Wellington on Tuesday, and after hearing evidence the magistrate decided that the best interests of the parties concerned would be served by upholding 'the application. The plaintiffs were represented by Mr. J. .Scott, and Mr. J. .1. McGrath appeared for Captain Wewetzer. ■Mullen and Parkinson, in evidence, made complaints of their treatment by the captain, which the latter denied, but admitted that "there was an argument now and then." His Worship said that the fact of a master's experiencing trouble with his crew might be due to the manner in which that crew had been obtained. A captain's duty was to maintain discipline on his ship, but. under the circumstances, it would be quite impracticable for the Court to ord.r these men to return to the ship. It would' not ?be safe to make that direction in cither of the cases. The contract would -therefore lie rescinded. The police had stated, added the magistrate, that they did not welcome the residence of discontented seamen in the country, but in the present case there was no lawful reason why Mullen and Parkinson should not be permitted to land. They were both British {subjects, and the Internal Affairs Department had raised no objection. Each man was necessarily entitled to the wages due to him up to the time of his leaving the vessel, but on the application for judgment for wages the plaintiffs would be nonsuited.