SEAMEN'S PROTEST

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 30, 4 August 1939, Page 9

SEAMEN'S PROTEST

FOOD IN NAPIER STAR

GUILTY OF DISOBEDIENCE

VOYAGE TO DOMINION

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

(Received August 4, 11 a.m.)

LONDON, August 3,

Forty-two seamen, members of the crew of the Napier Star, appeared, in the East Ham Police Court on charges of failing to obey lawful i commands, combining to disobey j lawful commands, and combining to impede the progress of the ship from Port Elizabeth on May 1 Avhile on a j voyage to New Zealand. Mr. Glenn Craske, prosecuting on behalf of the Blue Star Line, said the men's actions were little short of mutiny. All walked off because they wanted different food, which was tantamount to holding the ship for ransom. The quartermaster had complained on behalf of the men. that the Lancashire hot-pot served at tea time on May 1 was ' unfit for a dog. The chief steward considered it was good food, an identical dish being served to. the officers and passengers before and after the crew's complaint. The men remained ashore for four hours, and returned after the captain had promised not to prosecute them for what one of the men who walked off described as . open mutiny. The owners subsequently decided to pro-| secute. i Counsel for the defence said some of the men were ill in consequence of the food supplied. The hot-pot consisted of stinking meat, bad greens, arid potatoes, and other commodities, making it unfit to eat. All the men were found guilty of j disobeying commands. Five -who were under 20 years of age were bound over for a year, and the rest were.sentenced to six weeks' hard labour.