MAGISTRATE’S COURT
WEDNESDAY (Before Mr Ravmond Ferner. S.M.) SHIP DESERTERS Dennis Herbert Harding, aged 22. a ship’s cook, and Thomas George Smith, aged 24, a ship's steward, pleaded guilty to a charge that they deserted the overseas ship Ninella at Dunedin on July 14. Mr L. J. Hensley, counsel for the shipping company, said that the complainant, in common with other companies, was concerned at the prevalence of ship desertions. Deserters had to be replaced by New Zealanders, who had to be repatriated at a minimum cost of £5O. In other places the Court often ordered a deserter to repay that sum, and counsel asked the Court to consider making such an order against Harding. Smith was replaced by a Canadian and repatriation was not necessary in that instance. Mr Ferner said that the suggestion had been considered by the Christchurch Magistrates, but it had not commended itself to them, and they proposed continuing the present practice. Harding and Smith were each sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour.
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Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25933, 13 October 1949, Page 7
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170MAGISTRATE’S COURT Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25933, 13 October 1949, Page 7
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