FORMER R.A.F. MAN FINED £20 FOR SHIP DESERTION

Grey River Argus, 19 October 1948, Page 8

FORMER R.A.F. MAN FINED £20 FOR SHIP DESERTION

An unusual penalty—a tine of £2O with three months in which to pay—was imposed by Mr A. A. McLachlan, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court today on a man convicted of deserting his ship on January 13. .

Counsel for the accused, Dennis Bert Clement Canning, a clerk, *jiid the accused was not a seaman. He had served in the R.A.F. for over six years, and had unsuccessfully tried to immigrate with his wife to New Zealand. He then decided to come to New Zealand by himself to make arrangements for his wife.

‘‘it would seem a thousand pities”, said counsel, “if the citizenship this young man has sought for a long time were to start with a prison record”. “Other men have acted on impulse”, commented the Magistrate, “but the accused set out from England with the set intention of leaving his ship in New Zealand. The court has to consider the international food situation and the law of contract as well”.

Counsel submitted that it was for the court to consider the individual in the case. He ac/led that there was a pool of men available to take, positions as assistant stewards on ships, such as was held by the accused. The Magistrate imposed the penalty as stated.