RETURNING TO SHIPS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 34, 9 August 1934, Page 14

RETURNING TO SHIPS

AGREEMENT TO WORK

ADVICE OF UNION

On their unanimous agreement to return immediately to Greymouth to take their different steamers to sea, tho r.eleaso from detention at tho Paparua Prison, Christchureh, has been approved by his Excellency the Governor-General (Lord Bledislor.) of the 70 seamen who were convicted" at the Magistrate's Court, Greymouth, on Saturday last and sentenced on Tuesday to a, fortnight's imprisonment with hard labour on charges of combining to disobey lawful commands to take the Kaimiro, Kai- j uiai, Poolta, Union Company vessels, and the Titoki and Rata, Anchor vessels, to sea. Tho 70 men were put on. tho West Coast train this morning, and will reach Groymouth this evening, and bo placed aboard their ships. Particulars of tho events which led to a recommendation being made to his Excellency the; Governor-General for thfi conditional release of tho imprisouod seamen were outlined by the Minister of Justice (the Hon. J. G. Cobbe) today. "Everybody was sorry," said Mr. Cobbn, "that the- seamen had placed themselves outsido of tho law, and everybody will bo pleased that the Magistrato. (Mr. Morgan, S.M.) who dealt with the cases, recommended the release of the men on an undertaking being given that they would take their ships to sea immediately.' In consequence of tho men's agreement, the authenticity of which there was no reason to doubt, and on the advico of tho Magistrate, I had'pleasure in advising his Excellency to remit the unexpired portion of the sentence imposed on tho men.' They were released from the Pap.irua Prison this morning and left by the train to rejoin their ships at the Greymouth port." ; MEN ADDRESSED IN PRISON. Mr. Cobbe stated that it was correct that Mr. F. P. Walsh, president of the Seamen's Union, had dono much to bring about tho agreement of the men to again work their ships, conditional on their'release and tho willingness, of tho shipping companies concerned to place them again on tho pay-roll. "It was represented to me," continued'the Minister^ "that Mr. Walsh', president of the Seamen's Union, was dosirous of being given an opportunity of interviewing the men collectively when they arrived at Paparua Prison, and ho desired, to know, should they be agreeablo to return to their ships, whether the Government would agree to their release from prison. Mi-. Walsh was informed that facilities would be afforded him to address the men, but that no undertaking could bo given in the matter of their release. If the men were prepared to return to their ships their wish to do so and tho qucstioir of their release would be represented' to the- Magistrate for his recommendation. ■

"The superintendent of the Paparua Prison reported yesterday to the Controller' General •of • Prisons (Mr. B. L. Dallard) that Mr. Walsh and four other* members of the executive of the Seamen's• Union visited Paparua and were permitted to address the men in the assembly ball'at the prison; The superintendent also reported that after a lengthy • discussion-- -lasting- about three-quarters of an hour, which showed that there were only three or four dissenters, the men decided that, if released, they would be prepared to immediately return to their ships. Mr. Walsh.then intimated that if the Goycrhment would agree to the release he and another member of the executive would' bo prepared to accompany the men back to Greymouth to ensure that they carried out their undertaking to rejoin their' ship's." Particulars of the men's agreement were-then conveyed to the Magistrate' (Mr/ Morgan), who advised that,, if the men had given an undertaking- that they were prepared to rejoin their ships and take off to sea immediately, and the Union Company and ihe other company concerned were willing to take them back, he would bo prepared to recommend .their release on such conditions.

"It is very gratifying that all concerned have worked so successfully in bringing about a satisfactory settlement of the trouble."