BROKE CONTRACT

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 238, 8 October 1936, Page 11

BROKE CONTRACT

SHIP DESERTION.

PLEA MADE BY STEWARD. i MAGISTRATE IMPOSES FINE. I Arrested this morning by Constable Chalcraft, of the Queen's wharf police, Charles Johnston later appeared, before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court, when he pleaded guilty to a charge of deserting the s.s. Rangitane at Auckland on September 22. A representative <3f the New Zealand Shipping Company said Johnston was an assistant steward on the vessel and signed on in England for the round voyage. Mr. F. K. Hunt: Have you made arrangements to take liim back Home 011 another of your company's ships?— No, sir. The company does not want him back. The accused told the magistrate he was a married man, his wife living in Auckland. "I left New Zealand to go to the war, and I held a commission in the Navy," he said. "I asked the ship to pay me off here decently and properly, but they refused. I wanted to do the thing properly, but they would not let me. There were very few passengers returning to England 011 the Rangitane and they did not need me." "The fact remains that you made a contract and broke it," Mr. Hunt told him. "You signed 011 at florae and you deserted the ship here." "Well, I ask you to deal leniently with me," said Johnston. "I am working and doing well." The accused was fined £5, or one month's imprisonment. The magistrate allowed one week for payment.