SEAMEN FINED.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19467, 14 November 1928, Page 4

SEAMEN FINED.

COMMAND DISOBEYED.

REFUSED TO SHIFT HEATED COAL.

fTHB PEESS Special Sendee.] AUCKLAND, November 13. On the voyage from Now Plymouth of the steamer' Port Darwin, which berthed at Auckland on Monday, the unique spectacle was witnessed of officers and apprentices toiling in a heated coal bunker, while 16 sailors and firemen stood idly by. Disobedience on the high sens of the command of Captain Sawbridge, master of the steamer, resulted in the appearance in the Magistrate's Court of the following seamen and trimmers: —J. Mcßae, J, Waters, D. McLeod, E. Smith, F. L. Sharpe, B. Woodend, H. Griffen, H. Reid, F. Harvey, J. Hughes, F Peters, W. Fittock, J. O'Neill, A. Butcher, and T. Merner. Pleas of guilty were entered by all the defendants to a charge of failing to obey an order of the captain. On the way from Timaru to New Plymouth it was found one ofi the fore coal bunkers had become heated, said Mr MeVeagli, who appeared on behalf of the captain. At New Plymouth, sliore labour was sought to remove the 'coal from the bunker, but because of the fuines and heat which they said they wero encountering in work the watersiders asked for increased pay. It was decided to proceed to Auckland, and while at sea the captain asked the trimmers if they would remove the coal from the bunker. They refused to do so, and so did the sailors. In the end the officers and apprentices had to turn to and do the work. It was not desired that the men should be severely punished, but they had offended and must be shown that their artion was wrong. Speaking on behalf of all the defendants, v Mr Holmden said that if the authorities had used a little tact and a little more foresight the occurrence would not have happened and the men would not have been brought before the Court. In October the ship was at Auckland, and it was discovered that the particular bunker was heated and that smoke was coming from it, This was reported to the engineers. Had action been taken, then everything would most likely have been all right, but the Port Darwin went to Wellington, loaded coal on top of that already in the bunker, and from there went to Lyttelton and Timaru. When the vessel arrived at New 1 Plymouth the first steps were taken by the officers. Waterside men were engaged on the bunker removing' coal to the shelter deck. Owing, to the fumes and heat the workers claimed higher wages which the authorities apparently did not see fit to pay. At sea the trimmerß were approached and asked to take on the work abandoned by the waterside workers. If they were paid the same rate of wages as waterside workers, the trimmers said they would do the work. They did not ask for increase in pay as did the watersiders. The trimmers' claim was based on the contention that the bunker was dangerous at the time. When they left for s6a they said they had been told they-would not be asked to attend to the bunker. Now they were being charged with disobedience of an order which the chief engineer had told them would not be given. In any case there wa,s no immediate danger on board the steamer. Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M.: If there is one thing that must be obeyed without question it is the order of a captain of a ship at sea. Prompt obedience when an instruction of any kind is given is of absolute importance. It is for the master to say what shall be done, not for every member of the crow. Questions should not be asked and the crew should not argue among themselves as to whether the captain is right or wrong. He is held responsible and his orders must bo obeyed. Disobedience of them make men liable to prison. However, Mr McVeagh has not painted the picture as a very bad one, and I shall fine the men this time. Bach of the firemen was fined two days' pay, while each of the sailors was ordered to pay one day's pay.