SHIP DESERTIONS INCREASING

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28451, 4 December 1957, Page 21

SHIP DESERTIONS INCREASING

Counsel Submissions To Court (New Zealand Preu Association) WELLINGTON, December 3. “There appears to have been an increase in the number of ship desertions since the new Shipping and Seamen’s Amendment Act (1957) came into force,” said Mr L. M. Graeg, in the Magistrate’s Court Mr Graeg was appearing on behalf of the Shaw Savill and Albion Company in opposing three applications by seamen, who had deserted their ship in New Zealand, to stay in the country. “An example of the general feeling that prevails throughout the ships,” continued Mr Graeg, “was that of the Condesa which was berthed at Napier. Of a crew of 74 seamen, 15 deserted, and it was with the greatest difficulty that 12 replacements—some of them without sea experience—were obtained.

“Napier is a very hard port to obtain replacements,” said Mr Graeg, "and before the new amendment act came into force, there had been no complaint about the ship, either in Napier or Wellington. “The general feeling is that it is now easier to stay in New Zealand than it was previously. “If this feeling is still going to prevail throughout the ships that come to New Zealand, desertion will become a common thing among seamen, and it will be increasingly difficult for ships to be manned.”

Mr J. S. Hanna, S.M., who heard the applications—by men off the Captain Cook, Athenic and the Southern Cross—reserved his decision in each case.