REFUSED DUTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 270, 14 November 1928, Page 9

REFUSED DUTY.

TRIMMERS AND SEAMEN.

HOT BUNKER ON STEAMER.

COAL REMOVED BY OFFICERS

Fifteen men, members of the crew of the steamer Port Darwin, lined up at the Police Court yesterday afternoon to answer a charge that they disobeyed a lawful command by the master of the vessel. The group comprised seven trimmers and eight seamen. Mr. R. S. McVeagh said that when the steamer was on the way from Timaru to New Plymouth a cross-bunker became heated. At New Plymouth watersiders were engaged to remove the coal, but demanded a higher rate of pay. It was then decided to bring the vessel on to Auckland. The trimmers were asked to remove the coal and refused, and the sailors in turn declined. The officers and apprentices then turned to and did the work. It was believed that the seamen were subjected to a certain amount of moral coercion. The ship was due to sail from Auckland, and it was not desired to imprison the men. Mr. T. Holmden said that the steamer was in Auckland in October last from the 14th to the 19th. It was then discovered that the fore bunker was healed, and smoke was coming out of it. The donkey-greaser and two of the crewreported the matter to the engineers, and if action had then been taken nothing would have happened. When the steamer reached Wellington more coal was loaded on top of the heated lot. Mr. Hunt, S.M.: The chief engineer would know better than the donkeyman wouldn't he?

Mr. Holmden said that on the way up the coast to New Plymouth the bulkhead got very hot, and one trimmer was overcome by fumes. After the watersiders had refused to work the coal the trimmers offered to do the work if they were paid the rate of wages which the watersiders were first offered. The men were told by the chief engineer that they would not be asked to do the particular work. A little tact and foresight would have got over the trouble. Mr. Hunt pointed out to the men that strict compliance with orders from officers of a ship was necessary. However, the case had not been painted blackly. He ordered the trimmers to forfeit two days' pay, and the seamen one day's pay. Costs were divided! amongst the fifteen defendants, I