DUTCH SEAMAN ASHORE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 125, 29 May 1928, Page 4

DUTCH SEAMAN ASHORE

A. TWO YEARS' OLD OFFENCE A Dutch seaman, Abraham van Katwyk, aged 37, was before the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon chargeil with deserting from the Port -Nicholson .'in. June, 1926. Katwyk, who was described as a steady and thrifty worker, pleaded guilty to tho offence. Mr. W. P. Shorland, who appeared for- the shipping company, said that a warrant was issued for Katwky's arrest in June, 1926. Ho was a prohibited immigrant, and in this connection the shipping conipany had 'been obliged to pay £.100 deposit, Counsel for Katwyk (Mr. A. J. Mazengarb) said that an application made for the accused to remain in Noiv Zealand was under consideration. Katwyk had been working at Napier, and ho understood he bore a good character. Ho left the Port Nicholson because he was favourably impressed With the country; and thought that ho Would be ablo to . better, himself. When there was no work on tho waterfront in Napier he had been engaged in fishing,; and by being^steady and thrifty he had been able to purchase a fishing launch. Although, no doubt, Katwyk knew he was doing wrong when he deserted the Port Nicholson, he loft the ship with no real criminal intent, but solely for the purpose of improving his position. Katwyk could not be described as an undesirable immigrant. The Collector of Customs (Mr. E. T. W. M'Laurin) said that Katwyk's application to be allowed to remain in tho country was under consideration, butf some further information was required yet from Napior. The Magistrato (Mr. E. Page, S.M.), granted a remand until sth June, pending the consideration of Katwyk's application to remain in New Zualand. Should arrangements bo completed before that time, he will bo brought before the Court at an earlier date.