MISSED THEIR PASSAGE

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 88, 12 October 1915, Page 8

MISSED THEIR PASSAGE

SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST TWO TRIMMERS. BREACH OF WAR REGULATIONS, Serious charges were brought against two trimmers — William Price and John Joseph Dignan in the Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M. Last week the men signed on the articles of ships which had been chartered by the New Zealand Government for special purposes. On Saturday morning they came ashore without leave, became very drunk, were arrested, and lodged in the police cells. In the meantime there was a hunt all over the city in order to fill the vacancies, and serious delay and inconvenience was caused. The men were accordingly charged with a breach of contract, which had been made under the provisions of the War Regulations Act, 1915. Mr. P. S. K. Macassey represented the Crown. Defendants pleaded not guilt>. Mr. Macassey stressed the serious nature of the offences. The men were liable to three months' imprisonment, and under an amending Act, which had not yet received the Governor's assent, twelve months.' Price and Dignan had 'preferred becoming drunk to serving their country in the way they had contracted to do. He called formal evidence. The men denied that they had any intention of leaving the ships. When they were arrested they told the police where they had come from. The Magistrate: "Is that so!" Sub-Inspector M'Kinnon : "The arresting constable is not here. I believe it is so." The Magistrate: "I don't know whether I should convict these men. They say their clothes are still on board, and that they had no intention of leaving the ship. 1 can't understand why the police did not place tjiem on board." Mr. Macassey pointed out that the Act made a person responsible for acts of omission as well as acts of commission. The men had got themselves into such a condition that they were unable to Iceep their contracts. That was an act of omission. His Worship entered a conviction, out stated that he would not impose the maximum term of imprisonment. Each would be sentenced, to one month's hard labour. For drunkenness, Rice was fined £2, in default seven days in gaol, and Dignan £1, with the alternative of 48 hours in custody.