CURIOUS SHIPPING CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3591, 2 August 1912, Page 2

CURIOUS SHIPPING CASE.

OFFICER CHARGED WITH INDUCING MEMBER OF CREW OF ANOTHER VESSEL TO JOIN HIS STAFF. MAGISTRATE’S INTERESTING JUDGMENT. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.J AUCKLAND, August 1. Recently when the It.M.S. Marama was in Auckland on her way to Vancouver a seaman deserted and as it was important that the mail boat should proceed an officer of the Union Coy. (Mr Jas. Hartley) went to the Maheno, another of the Union Coy.’s fleet, and persuaded a steward there to act on the Marama for the trip with the promise that- thereafter he would be returned to his old berth on tho Maheno. The Captain of the Maheno was not consulted' in the matter. For this action Hart-lev was prosecuted by the Superintendent of Marine on a charge that lie peruaded a seaman not to proceed to sea in bis He was defended bv Mr R. MeVeagli, who raised several points in argument on the matter, but admitted tho facts. After considering the case. Mr E. C. Cutten, S.M., has given his decision against the defendant. In the course of his judgment the magistrate pointed out that underjtluShipping and Seamen Act of 18S7 it was permissable for owners to transfer men from one shin. to another, but no provision of the kind appeared in the present Act. _ A seaman who left Ins ship without obtaining bis discharge was guilty of a breach of His legal duty and the defendant in persuading a seaman to leave his ship committed a breach under Section 148 of the Act. The case had been brought to draw attention to the position and defendant would not lie fined. He would be convicted and ordered to pay the costs.