MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26525, 13 September 1951, Page 10

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

WEDNESDAY (Before Mr Raymond Ferner, S.M.) SEAMEN RELEASED ON BAIL

Finn Eriksen, aged 32, a ship's motorman. Finn Didnk Eriksen, aged 42. a seaman. and Oddbjorn Larson, aged 18. a seaman, who were sentenced on August 13 to one month's imprisonment on a charge of deserting from the Norwegian ship. Bratsberg. at Lyttelton, on July 4. again appeared before the Court. Senior-Sergeant J. C. Fletcher said that, now the men had served their sentence, the question was what should be done with them. No ship had yet been available to deport them. Mr R. W. Edgley, for the shipping company's agents, said few of these tankers were coming to New Zealand, as a result of the Persian oil trouble, and that was whv it was difficult to deport the men. None of them could speak English, but an interpreter was present. The Magistrate asked if the men could obtain bail.

Senior-Sergeant Fletcher said that the man on the West Coast who had been employing them at a sawmill would be glad to stand bail and have them back working for him.

The Magistrate said he was glad to know that. Each would be allowed bail in his own recognisance of £lOO, and one surety of £lOO. and be ordered to report daily to the police. Steps should be taken to explain to the men. through the interpreter, that the Court did not intend to order them to be detained further in custody, but they would be released on bail until they could be deported. FINED FOR THEFT

Leslie Williams, aged 24. a waiter, t leaded guilty to a charae that, between eptember 3 and September 11. he stole 21b of butter and lib of tea, valued at 9s lOd, the property of the Air Department. He was convicted and fined £4.

Detective-Sergeant G. W. Alty said that Williams was employed as a civilian ■waiter in the officers’ mess at the Royal New Zealand Air Force station. Wigram. receiving £7 16s net a week in wages. There were unaccountable shortages in the mess, and a check was made on September 11. when it was found that 11b of butter was missing from the refrigerator. Williams was accosted as he was leaving the station, and he admitted taking lib of butter and jib of tea. He also admitted taking lib of butter and Jib of tea on September 3.