PLEA FOR SEAMEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17788, 13 May 1918, Page 4

PLEA FOR SEAMEN.

ALLEGED INJUSTICE. UNDER WAR REGULATIONS. A general charge of unjust treat, ment of seamen under the. War Regulations was made to the Minister of Justice (the Hon T. M. Wilford) at Wellington on Saturday by a deputation of tho Seamen’s Union, states tile “ Post.” The secretary (Mr W. T. Young) said that a sentence of six- months’ imprisonment had been imposed on a seaman, William Dunn, by Mr M’Carthy, S.M. It seemed to him that the sentence was a most vicious one. The oliargo was that tho man stationed at a ship’s gangway at Timaru and Lyttelton had left the vessel when he should have remained on guard. 11 The charge liad been padded in an effort to magnify the offence,” declared Mr Young. Resolutions had been adopted emphatically protesting against the arresting of seamen, with or without warrant, on all kinds of pettifogging charges. They were rushed before the Court at short notice without an opportunity to engage counsel. There was evidence that the police had prevented seamen from obtaining counsel. Dunn was sentenced on March 22. He was hurriedly brought before the Court, and was not defended. If he had been charged under the Shinning and Seamen Act the penalty for each offence could have been only fourteen days’ imprisonment—a total of twentyeight days for the two convictions—or a forfeiture of four days’ pay. But the charge had been brought under the War Regulations, under which a convicted person was liable to a term (f twelve months’ imprisonment. The ship in question was a transport wliic'i liad a military guard in accordance with regulations. This military guard - required passes from any persons who sought access to such a vessel. That was the. first line of defence, and the second line was another military guard on board. Dunn’s presence at tho gangway was an unimportant detail. Hu absence did not interfere with the effective guarding of the ship. Therefore the Minister was. requested to help in grauting a remission of the sentence.

With regard to the other point—the treatment of seamen generally—it was felt strongly that men of the mercantile marine, who had proved their solid value to the community, should have much better conditions. The union also objected to the discretionary power granted to masters o! ships, who had the option of receiving sentenced men on hoard or allowing them to serve a term in gaol. MR YOUNG CHALLENGED. The Minister replied that ho could not believe that seamen wer© not allowed opportunities to engage counsel. If Mr Young would supply details, with names, he would place the matter immediately before the Commissioner of Police, and the personsresponsible would bo dealt with. Mr Young: I can’t supply names, but I stand to it. Mr AVilford: You are not prepared to prove it? Mr Young: I haven’t records of the cases, hut there was my own case. The Minister said that he did not think that Dunn could have been prosecuted under the Shipping Act. Tbo t would .he practicable in peace times, hut this was a time of war. ftmn was a guard on an overseas vessel. This was a most important duty, for negligence might mean that a malcontent, or an enemy of the country, would havo an opportunity to do mischief. The report on the case at Timaru stated that Dunn’s desertion of his post had been a serious matter, for it was not known whether undesirables had gained access to tho vessel in his absence. The facts at Lyttelton , were, similar, and Dunn had also acted similarly at AVellington, when lie received another chance.

Ho could not see, in war lime, under war conditions, that the sentence was savage. It was difficult to reconcile the facts with Mr Young’s statements. He could not see that tho deputation had adduced evideneo which would warrant interference with the sentonoe. AY believer the seamen had complaints about alleged injustice, he would he plcaro/l to learn them, hut in this e/iso he would make no effort, on Dunn’s behalf. There were cases in which remissions might be granted, but this waa not one of them.