STRIKE OF STEWARDS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15500, 29 January 1916, Page 13

STRIKE OF STEWARDS.

TROCBLE OVER. FOOD IN THE T AINU I. \ A LIGHT PENALTY. (rr.rss association telegk.uO AI CKLAXD, January ?S. A sequel to ;i stewards' strike on the i high seas was tin' appearance in Court to-day, before Mr V. V. ['razor. .S -M.. of nine young men. stewards in the steamer Tainui. They were charged with eombiniug on January 10th, while on the high from London to Auckland, to disobey lawful command.-, or to neglect, their duty, and also with wiliul disobedience 01 lawful command.-. It was .stated for the complainant that the defendants. on -January iUth. re i used to go on duty after a a.m., complaining that the food offered at i brealit:vst was not good enough. De- , spite the repeated requests of the captain they remained on strike till tne i.ext dn;\ 'William Kershaw, chief officer of the lainui, said a sample was taken of the I'Keu.klast. which consisted that day of porridge, stewed steak and mashed potatoe.-,. The caotam, alter ins the fond, declared it was all n&n. and he tohl the iv.Cn. they must >®^' rn to their dutic.s. Tiiey refused j«f;c!ariug that the steak was bu*s?r Defendants served the nasscyf|srs with breakfast before the v strtlek. They then asked for their Board of Trade allowance, and orders "were given that the request should be granted. William John Carpenter, purser, of the Tair.ni, said a sample of the meat was slightly burnt, but it was eatable. itness tasted it. The potatoes ami porridge were a'l right. Had the moat been served to him he would probably have asked for something else. JJe would jiot have enjoyed the meal. 'N olunteer.s were called lor to do the work of the ste.wards, and passengers decided to take iiv duly until tlie ■stewards returned. Then; were one. or two complaints from passengers about the food during the voyage, the cooking being at fault. In itself tile food "war, good. After .leaving Cape Town. "witi,o:-:s had the food cooked in another galley under the-chief cook. A petition containing the signatures of a few third-class passengers was received, pro. testing that they bad dry hash i'or

breakfast, while the stewards had loin chops. It was to obtain good cooks because of the war. Two cooks deserted at Cape The cook for tho third-class passengers was 01 years of age. T)cfendants re.-uniod duty on January IJt.h. Y\ illiam Branie. chief steward, stated that the only complaints from nasscngers came from a reservist <m January 10r,h. The passengers did not. complain until the stewards .struck and wont t.<) thorn for sympathy. Mr McGregor said that complaints as to the food were rife thioughout the voyage. When the defendants asked for bolter food it was agreed that they should have what was left, by the second-dnss passengers, instead of what, the third-class- passengers left. After three dny.s the concession was stopped, because the third-class passengers objected to the stewards being hotter fed than what they were. Had the least tact been nsed there would have b.en r.o trouble. A woman .passenger who gave evidence, said there had been . several complaints throughput the voyage by passengers regarding the food J The Magistrate said it was apparent that not much tact had been employed, otherwiso the matter could have been settled. It was evident that- the mcu had ample grounds for complaint.. There was no doubt that the food had been bad, and on tho morning in question it was worse than usual. At the same- time the men should not have struck. The company was probabiy not altogether to blame in riciv of the difficulty experienced j n obtaining cooks, if the defendants had not been on board a ship he would have been inclined to let them go with a warning, but a breach of discipline 011 board ship \va.s more serious than one 011 land. were ordered to pay costs. '