LINER SENSATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 February 1923, Page 8

LINER SENSATION

STEWARDS DLL'K WUMEN. SYDNEL’, January 19. Chiiblmas Day aboard tne Commonwealth Government liner Esperance Bay, which airived from Loud.m yesterday, was celebrated by sumo ol Luc stewards seizing a number of women passengers and throwing them into a swimming bath on the deck. There hits been continual trouble on the “Bay” boats since they began run. ning, but this is easily the most serious incident of its kind that has occurred. The (Stewards’ Union in Sydney, in a report <m the occurrence, savs that some of the women at the time were resting in their cabins, and were in but scant attire. Another was tt cripple, and yet another was coming from the bathroom with only a wrapper on. All of tlieso were seized and were dumped into the bath. Tim matter was repotted to I Ito captain of (he vessel, who immediately caused an enquiry to be made. The offenders were shortly discovered. However, some of lhe women refused to make any chai go against the men. One women in particular refused to make a statement. It was afterwards discovered that site was related t<» one of the stewards. Tito captain decided to rep.’it I lie matter to file head office, and let the trouble bp dealt witli from there. It was also slated in tlie report that lite ringleader of (he ol'i'eimets w.is given an opportunity to apologise to the passengers for tlm bcha\ionr of himself and his three confederates. His method of apology, however, only added fit it Iter insult to all cmtcci lied. So seriously docs the Stewards’ L ttion regard the mailer I lint llmso said I" be concerned are to be called before a special meeting. I lie gen-’i’.ij secflary of the association, said he was disgusted to think that, the organ isaliojt should be blighted by such members. Il is such tmn ami their like," lie said, “who bring diesretlil on lhe heads of all oilier members. Anyhow, lib’ general body will hate an opportunity of dealing with lhe whole mailt”..’’ ’Fite sci r. t.’iy of the New South Wtilcs branch said it was most unfortunate lli.-jt out of a <'r.'‘iv of 76 four should so f;ir forget themsclvt s as to bring lire whole department into disrepute. It was an olfence not, only against tlie women in question, but, ( against tlie whole of the members "I the organisation. “Both tlie gem’t’ai seeret.’iry ami myself,” he said, “offer on behalf of the great, bulk of our members, a sincere apology |,<> the 1 ladies who have been so grossly insulted.