TWO MONTHS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 245, 16 October 1925, Page 3

TWO MONTHS.

MEN FROM ATHENIC. GO BACK ON WORDS. VOLUNTARY CREW OBTAINED. As a result of tlie action of the engine room staff of the Athenic promising, last evening, to take their ship to sea, and then, at the eleventh hour when all was ready, going back on their word, 40 members of the crew appeared before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the Police Court this afternoon. They were charged with combining to disobey lawful commands, or alternatively, with combining to neglect duty. Thirty-seven of them received two months' imprisonment. "This is not the ordinary case," said Mr. R. McVeagh, prosecuting. "In the ordinary cases the men complained that their wages were reduced after they went to sea. In this case the men signed on for £9 10/ per month and their wages have not been reduced. "On September 29,'' continued counsel, "these men were asked to get ready to put to sea, and they refused. Proceedings were contemplated, but yesterday the men, who all belong to the engine-room staff, went to the captain voluntarily and asked him to drop the proceedings, promising to take the ship to sea. Regardless of this promise, this morning, when the anchor was weighed, the captain was informed that the men declined to carry on." Their action, said Mr. McVeagh, must be regarded as a deliberate and calculated one. Counsel added that the Athenic was now ready for sea. "We have a crew," he said, "and we don't want these n*?n." In eentencing the men to two months' imprisonment, the magistrate said that the law looked after seamen very well. All it required of the mei> was two duties: (1) To stick to their 6hip, and (2) to obey commands. "You deliberately broke your bond, and you deliberately broke your word," concluded Mr. Hunt. There was the usual cheering and shouting from the back of the Court as the men filed into the prisoners' room. Three of the men, who were under 21 years of age, said they would not go back to the ship. Mr. Hunt said he would not send them to gaol. They were convicted and discharged. Hen From Otaki. Forty-one men from the Otaki were being charged as we went to press. STEAMER WAIOTAPU DELAYED. Owing to the absence of one member of her crew, the Union Company's transPacific cargo steamer Waiotapu was delayed in her sailing from Auckland for Wellington. The vessel completed her cargo operations at midday to-day, but owing to vacancies in her crew did not leave the Central wharf. At time of going to press she was still at her 'berth.