IMPRISONED SEAMEN.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 9, 22 December 1925, Page 5

IMPRISONED SEAMEN.

RELEASE AND REPATRIATION. ARRANGEMENtFbEING MADE. V/elilngton, Deo. 21. A movement is on foot in Auckland lor the release before the sentences expire, of a number of striking British seamen who are still in gaol, if there is a steamer available for them to be sent to England as distressed British seamen. The following telegram on the subject has been sent to Mr M. J. Savage, M.P. for Auckland West, by the Minister of Justice, Sir James Parr:— “Referring to an interview which you and other members of Parliament had with me at Auckland recently, when it was urged that seamen from overseas ships now in gaol at Auckland should be released and repatriated, as I intimated at the time the matter is one of Government policy and I have now had an opportunity of discussing it with the Government. I find in the first place that arrangements had already been made for sufficient accommodation to enable between 90 and 100 men to be repatriated by the lonic. It was found that only some 39 men were offering, though obviously a greater number are at liberty in Auckland. The balance of tho space was, therefore, rt> served for men who might be available in Wellington, but so far inquiries failed to discover any such men, and as the vessel is departing immediately there is no time to bring from Auckland men who are now in gaol. 1 mink it inadvisable and opposed to the men’s own interests, more particularly as many of them are probably without means, that they should be released before arrangements can lie made for their repatriation to Great Britain. The Marine Department is endeavouring to make requisite arrangements for further repatriations, and assuming this to be possible, I am prepared to authorise the release of men in numbers suitable to the accommodation available, on a definite understanding, of course., that the men undertake to fulfil the arrangements made on their behalf.’’