70 SEAMEN SENTENCED

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 33, 8 August 1934, Page 10

70 SEAMEN SENTENCED

GAOL FOR A FORTNIGHT

DEPAKTUBE BY TEAIN

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) GREYMOUTH, August 7. A crowd of nearly 2000 people saw 70 seamen from flvo vessels depart by train at 7.40 p.m; for Paparua Prison, Canterbury, after having been sentenced four hours previously to a-fortnight's imprisonment with hard labour by Mr. Morgan, S.M., following their conviction on Saturday on charges of combining to ■ disobey lawful commands to take the* Kaimiro, Kaimai, Poolta, Union Company vessels, and tho Tit'oki and Rata, Anchor Line vessels, to sea.

When the Court sat at 2.20 p.m. Mr. M. B. James, employers' counsel, asked that the sentence^ be deferred till 3.30 p.m. The Magistrate complied, stating that he understood the negotiations for a settlement were uncompleted.

Tho court was crowded when the Court resumed, but the position was unchanged, although Mr. James stated that the men had been advised by their executive to take tho ships to sea.

Mr. W. W. Gray, counsel for the men, explained that there was doubt Tegarding the information received, and the men were in the same position as on Saturday. They were prepared to go to prison unless their request for restoration of the cut was granted.

Mr. James said ho was instructed that as there h^d been no settlement the men should be convicted under section 135 of the Seamen's Act. The penalty provided was a month's imprisonment or the forfeiture of a month's wages. His instructions were to press for imprisonment. He understood that the men were instructed by the executive to take the ships to sea but declined. He also asked that contracts be cancelled as from Saturday. • A CRIMINAL CHAEGE. The Magistrate said he was doubtful if he could do that, as he understood the shipping authorities had power to dismiss the men for refusing duty.

Mr. James said that there was a dispute in existence.'. Tho Magistrate: But the men have been brought before me for failing to obey commands. It is a\ criminal charge. ; Mr. James said his Worship had intimated that if ■ the men were not reasonable under the circumstances he would imprison them. '

The Magistrate: That is so. I made it quite clear I intended to do that, and the men, I think, .understood that. Mr. James said, .that the men had defied the Court, and he asked his' Worship to sentence each to_ a month's imprisonment. ■ Mr. Gray said that tho men would liko an adjournment, as the present position was. confusing. There had been confusion with regard to telegrams the seamen had received from Wellington. The Magistrate said that nothing had been dono to reach finality. "Are the men unanimous that they won't take the ships to sea?" ho asked. Mr. Gray: They will stand as they were on Saturday unless they have something to go on. We are bound by ships' articles and. can't walk off and can't give notice to leave tho ships. To terminate our agreement was attempted in a quite orderly manner in telling the captains we would not take the ships to sea. We wish to ask leniency on behalf of two seamen—A. Broadley, aged 18 years, on account of his youth, and F. Callaghan, who broke his wrist when he fell on the ship this morning. Botli aro off the Kaimiro. THE COURT'S DUTY. The Magistrate said that tho men had had overy opportunity td settle the matter. It was a private prosecution, and as there was no chance of settlement tho duty of the Court was to pass sentence. Dealing in turn with 70 men, the Magistrate sentenced each to 14 days' imprisonment with hard labour at Paparua Prison. On charges of failing to rig gear and keep steam the men were convicted and. discharged. Regarding the plea for Broadley, the Magistrate said he would not'make a differentiation, in his case. Callaghan, who had broken his wrist, was convicted and discharged. < The seamen marched to the Waterside Workers' Union hall and then to the vessels fora meal. They were provided with three steam-heated carriages for the overland journey on a goods-train. \ Six policemen were in charge. The 70' seamen were all goodhumoured and exchanged greetings with the crowd.both sections joining in songs. ■ . ~ . i. The Gr,ey Valley Workers' Union sent baskets of food for the prisoners and a constable carried them aboard the train, to which a. wagon was attached for the seamen's luggage. Amid loud cheers the train departed on a journey lasting about ten hours, the seamen being obviously very comfortable.'