DESERTING SHIPS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LX, Issue LX, 31 December 1910, Page 5

DESERTING SHIPS.

MORE PROSECUTIONS IN WELLINGTON. BY TELEGEAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, Dec. 30. Following upon the prosecution of George McLeod from desertion from the steamer Clan McLaren yesterday, several arrests of seamen who had left their vessels without leave were made, and the alleged offenders appeared before DrMcArthur,S.M., at the Magistrate's Court to-day. Patrick Regan, an articled seaman on the Otaki, denied having unlawfully absented himself from ship without leave. He said he was feeling unwell, and went to a chemist's shop for medicine and was back in half an hour. According to the chief officer, however, Regan was absent from 9 a.m. to 12.40 on the day in question, and was drunk when he returned. Sub-Inspector Norwood asked that accused should be placed on board. The ship was sailing to-day, and there were so many of these men being left. The Magistrate told accused that were it not for the fact that the ship was sailing he .(Regan) would receive n term of imprisonment. The man was convicted and ordered to forfeit two days' pay, to defray the court costs, and to be placed on board his ship. John Nicholson, an articled seaman tfh the Clan McLaren, pleaded guilty to a charge of having unlawfully deserted from the ship. Sub-Inspector Norwood said he had been informed by the agents for the vessel that there are always a large number of applicants at the docks in Glasgow for a trip to New Zealand. This man was given preference because he held a certificate in the Royal Naval Reserves. He had signed on as usual for the round trip back to England. His Worship: That is another phase of the matter. Those who are prepared to carry out their contract are stopped from doing so. The Sub-Inspector: He has simply made a convenience of the company to come^-out here. His Worship (to accused): Have you anything to say? Accused: I am a member of the Seamen's Union, and I was promised that I could sign off. His Worship : What ? You knew very well you were signing on for the round voyage. Are you a fool, or do you think I am a fool? Accused: No, certainly not. It was stated that Nicholson had been virtually a passenger on the voyage out. He was sentenced to -one month's imprisonment. A plea of guilty was tendered by Joseph Anderson, charged with having unlawfully absented himself from the Drayton Grange. The ship was sailing for Avonmouth during the morning, and in view of this accused was convicted and ordered to forfeit two days' pay, also to. defray 7s court costs, and to be placed on board forthwith. Norman Morrison, another deserter, from the Clan McLaren, eighteen years of age, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment. A CASE AT PORT CHALMERS. DUNEDIN, Dec. 30. William Dowdell, fireman on the steamer Clan Chisholm, pleaded guilty at Port Chalmers to-day on a charge of being absent from the steamer. Sergeant Dougan told, the court that the vessel left yesterday evening for Timaru. but before 'she went away the accused and the mate, both partially intoxicated, were put on board several times by the police. No effort was made by those on board to prevent the accused leaving the ship after being put on board. Accused evidently had a grievance, which he was told to seek redress for by legal methods, but instead of doing so he insisted on leaving the ship illegally, and eventually the agent of the ship (Mr Wood) gave him m charge. The Bench (to accused): What have you to say? Accused: "I have a lot to say. I have been told to get out of the ship on more than one occasion by the engineers." He had been practically chased out of the ship. He had given no cause for that treatment. The food supplied on the vessel was not fit to be eaten, and the livine; apartment was not properly illuminated at night time. Besides, the ship was shorthanded. He l ? 5 j» n^*^ er man na< * themselves nred her shorthanded ever since he had been in the/colonies. The presiding Justices, Messrs De Mans and Watson, sentenced the accused to 14 days' imprisonment, but he will be put on board the vessel it she sails before the term expires.