SEAMAN GAOLED

Grey River Argus, 25 February 1941, Page 2

SEAMAN GAOLED

Absent from Post i WHEN FIRE STARTS ON SHIP | FOUR MONTHS WITHOUT I HOLIDAY. WELLINGTON, February 24. The recent lire aboard a vessel berthed at Wellington was referred to by Mr R. C. Christie, representing the shipping company concerned, in the Magistrate’s Court to-day, in a case in which a member of the crew was charged with being absent without leave. Mr Christie said that, although it was not suggested defendant’s action had been responsible for the occurrence, he had, by his breach of duty, created an opportunity for such a happening. Walter Walpole, a seaman, 47, pleaded guilty to the charge. He was sentenced to six weeks’ hard labour, by Mr Stout, S.M. Mr Christie said that defendant was due to be on duty on the gangway at 4 a.m., and he was not there. An apprentice, whose duty it was to watch the decks, was put on to gangway duty, and defendant turned up later in the day, drunk and abusive. “This is a matter of grave importance in these times,” said Mr Chris-] tie. “This particular vessel suffered! from an inexplicable fire. We cannot suggest that it was caused' through the defendant’s action, but by his breach of duty, he created an opportunity for it to happen. The defendant said that he had been on duty for four months continuously, and that he did not have one day’s leave during that period. He had been paid overtime for the week-ends and for national holidays, but, he added: “That does not help any man who wants a holiday.” Mr Christie said the fact was that defendant had had shore leave.