SHIP’S OFFICER GAOLED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21400, 10 May 1944, Page 4

SHIP’S OFFICER GAOLED

CENSORSHIP BREACH MOVEMENTS OF SHIP (P.A.) AUCKLAND, May 9. An onicer of an overseas ship was to-day sentenced to one week’s imprisonment by the magistrate. Mr. J. Molding, for a breach of the censorship regulations by writing a letter containing information about the movements of a British vessel. The defendant was James Ross, aged 21. who pleaded guilty. . It was staled that Ross was sixth engineer on the ship. He wrote a letter in Jersey City, America, giving his name, rank, and date of his snips arrival and projected departure. fhe censor intercepted the letter and forwarded it to the police. The defendant’s explanation to the police was that his ship left America before he could pick up his laundry and his purpose in writing was to gel his brother to pick up his laundry for him and leave it at the shipping office. There was nothing to suggest that Ross was other than a loyal subject, or that there was anything sinister in what he did, but there were many notices posted on his ship warnm ß against giving out information respecting ships’ movements. . Ross told the magistrate that it was difficult to obtain the clothing he required here. The magistrate said the consequences of giving out such information were so' serious that the interests of the safety of the country and its ships made it necessary to impose a term of imprisonment. The magistrate ordered that Ross should be placed on board his ship if it sailed before the expiration of the week's prison term.