FIREMEN FINED

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 7 May 1921, Page 5

FIREMEN FINED

FOR REFUSING DUTY, \

tBI TELEGBAPB—KRESS ASSOCIATION.) W-EIiLINGTON. May 6

A sequel to the hold-up of tne lYiapourika occurred at the Magistrate's Court to-day. The vessed. was unable toi proceed to Nelson on Wednesday, owing to! the men refusing duty, and proceeding wete accordingly taken against E. Clay, J. M. Giifney, J. Low, J. McAnarew, T. Ricnards, and i±. Serizer. The evidence showed that the Mapourika used to carry three firemen and two trimmers,, Dut as a result 01 repie-j sent^ations made by the union the ship, j since 1918, caried six competent firemen and ho trimmers, and this meant: that the firemen did their own trimming. On the day in question one of the firer men told the chief engineer that Mr Young (secretary of ■ the Seamen's Union) had arranged with the Union Company to hay© .men. sent.down.to. trim coal, but these men did riot appear., it i was contended by the men that there was not enough coal in the bunkers to take the vessel to sea. \ Giffney gave evidence '.that the men were never asked to .shirt the bunkers, and would have done so if they were asked. \ <■ ' The third engineer said the men admitted there was enough coal for the trip, but said it .was too; far back. Mr O'Regan, counsel for the defendants, said the whole thing was a misunderstanding. . ' Each defendant was fined forty.shillings.