MEN OF THE WAITOMO.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 53, 4 March 1926, Page 16

MEN OF THE WAITOMO.

STOKEHOLD CREW BEFORE COURT. i ALLEGE THAT POOD WAS BAD. \ j FIXES OF £5 LNTFLICTED. : As the result of the trouble -which occurred on board the Union Company's steamer Waitomo, thirteen members of the stokehold crew appeared at the Police Court yesterday afternoon, when they were charged with combining with caen other to disobey lawful command , :, or alternatively with neglecting their duty. Mr. Haigh prosecuted on behalf of the master. Captain Flynn. Mr. Holmden appeared for all the defendants, who each pleaded not guilty. The police stated that they were still looking for another man, while one was in the prisoner?" room under the influence of liquor. i Mr. Haigh. in outlining the circumEtances. stated that on Tuesday of last week complain::? were made about the chief cook. Subsequently on Thursday the secretary of the local Seamen's Union notified Captain Flynn that he had heard of the trouble and would endeavour to get the mater settled. That afternoon, two of the defendants approached Captain Flynn stating that they ivere aciins: on behalf of all the stokehold men. and that they would not take ,the ship to sea with the chief cook Jon board. The Waitomo was delayed jthat night, fun her discussions proving ■ futile. Again on Sunday further conjferenees were held and on Monday the paster called all the 14 men together. ■They then refused to go to sea with the Chief cook. Mr. Haigh said to him it 'seemed like the rule of the minority, for out of the 42 members comprising the crew of the Waitomo only 14. the men Jof the stokehold, were dissatisfied with the chief cook. The men had their .remedy and should have applied to the superintendent asking him to inspect the ( food. j Cat'tain J. Flynn then gave evidence snd detailed the trouble that had oc- ! nirred. i Cross examined witness said that when the vessel was laid up about five or six , weeks ago the meat was taken out of the refrigerator. He did not know whether tliis meat was taken to Hellahy's and placed on board ag-ain when the vessel was recommissioned. He denied that the ;galley was particularly dirty and offen,6ive. I Th? chief officer. George William GodIfrey. admitted that complaints had been 'made about the food. Of some food that |was brought along to him he tried some 'mince collops. These were quite all 'right, but on taking a bite at a sausage he found that this was bad and unfit to eat. ! Mr. Holmden: Did any man complain Ito you about the food prior to that?— I Not officially, Mr. Holmden: Well then, unofficially: !—1 refuse to answer that. Mr. Holmden: Was there not an at- ! mosphere of filth about the galley?— No. Evidence was then given by the chief enjrineer about the temperature of the refrigerator. The average was about 3-j degrees Fahrenheit. I For the defence. Mr. Holmden submitted that the men had a legitimate comjplaint. The men objected to the chief I cook and to the manner in which the ifood was dished up. For the past five 'weeks the meat had been tainted and 'nothing was done until Thursday last [to remedy this state of affairs. The gal- ' ley was kept in a dirty condition. The secretary of the Seamen's Union ! Thomas Frederick Anderson, failed for .the defence, stated that when he saw the I galley it was not elfßn. He did not pec I any of the food complained of. Witness I denied telling Captain Flynn over the ! telephone that the trouble had been I settled. He did say that he hoped !it would be settled and that the stokehold crew were willing to give the cook another two day's trial. Ore of the defendants. Gporsre Hague. in srivinsr evidence said. 'The food waj s-ucli that I would not offer it to a coolie. - The meat has been half putrid ever i since we joined five weeks aso. T have ibeen in the Union Company for IS years, and this food is the worst I have ever h./Ci '' j Other witnesses called condemned the ! food. They also said that the ?flllcy was not kept in a clean condition. There tvas always a stench 'about it owing to the refuse not being kept in the tins provided for it. One witness a ided that ,he had seen onions and pr.uri pudding, j i and cabbage, potatoes and jam tart, ■served up on the -one dish. When the ; meat was taken from the refrigerator ; last Thursday, it was so bad that it could be smelt, down in the engine rorm. One of the seamen. John McCready, said - he had been examined by a doctor last week and was told that he had a fractured rib. also a poisoned stomach. Mr. Holmden said that it could be assumed that the food had been i responsible for the poisoned stomach. j Mr. Poynton said that there had evidently been some reason for discontent ; however, the men had not act-.\l properly !in ihe matter. They should have c-om- ; plained to the superintendent, who would have inquired into the trouble. The ■ magistrate said that he was glad to see I the men protest, for they were entitled t-> i good food. In the old da\s when food 1 was bad it was only by complaints that better food was supplied. However, in this case the men had taken the matter into their own hands. That was quite a wrons: line of action to take. They would each be ordered to forfeit ten days' pay. Mr. Haigh: They have no pay to i draw. They are paid up to March 1. 1 Mr. Poynton: Oh well, they will each be fined £5 a.nd costs. Forty-eight hours i will be allowed in -which to pay.