UNRULY SAILORS

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 103, 3 May 1919, Page 5

UNRULY SAILORS

ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE

-"AN UNDESIRABLE.'■■■

Seamen whose nationalities place them in tho category of "prohibited immigrants" within the meaning, of the War Regulations are occasionally thorns in the sides of the captains of tho vessels on which they are employed, for should such men be guilty of gross misbehaviour and flout ono or all of the ships' rules, the masters are forbidden by the Regulations to pay such men off and sail without them.

Emil Karen, a Finnish sailor on the steamer Terpsichore, waa given an unenviable character by Captain M. Jones when he was charged at the Magistrate's Court before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., with drunkenness and being absent from his ship without leave. "He is a most undesirable person,1" said the captain.

"I won't have him on the ship. If he sails by that boat, I shall not and others will not." Karen, added witness, had been in trouble in other ports, and had created several disturbances in Wellington, and had challenged other members of the crew to fight. Acting Sub-Inspector Emerson mentioned that the man carried an ugly knife, with an edge like a razor. The Magistrate pointed crat that it was not possible to detain the .man in prison for more than fourteen days, and ho was afraid that Karon would have to be paced on board the vessel. He- couM not be allowed! to come Ashore hi Mew Zealand.

The maximum penalty of fourteen days' hard labour was imposed. The knife will not be returned.

Arvi Arthur Karma, another Finnish sailor on the Terpsichore, was also charged with beiug absent, without leave, charged with being absent without leave.

He -was ordered to pay £-2 7s expenses and-to return to his vessel.

Members of the crew of the s.s. Tainui James Scott, William Nesbitt, Thomas Connor, Joseph Brown, and Hugh Weir were each ordered to be placed on board the. ship and to pay costs amounting to £2 7s. Scott, was also fined 5s for drunkenness.