SHIPPING A DESERTER

North Otago Times, Issue 13236, 6 March 1915, Page 4

SHIPPING A DESERTER

SCHOONER'S SKIPPER FINED.

[WUSUAL CASE AT LYTTELTON.

CIIRISTCIIURCII, March 5. A case of interest to seafarers was heard before Captain R. Hatehwell, J.P., and Mr W, 0.- Cleary, J.P., at the Lyttelton Magistrate's Court yesterday, when Robert Edward Price, master of the schooner Morning Light, was charged with having, on January 26,1915, carried to sea one L. Wilson, a, boy, in contravention of section 148 of the Shipping.and Seamen Act 1908, knowing him to have been a deserter from the barque Hazel Craig, at Lyttleton, Defendand pleaded not guilty, ,

Captain J. A. H. Marcie), superintendent of mercantile marine, Lyttelton, prosecuted on behalf of the Marino •Department, Captain Morciel said that defendant had shipped the lad whilst the vessel was at anchor in the stream,' but, it •vrtis his duty to ascertain 'wfcether the lad had • a clean discharge from his last, ship, Witness, in this case maintained that the master had not exercised the •necessary caution and, ns (lie outcome of instructions from I lip Marine Department, lie had . been instructed. to. take proceedings. Defendant stated that on January 2fi, whilst the vessel was at'anchor off Camp Bay lie met the lad outside the shipping office, and in reply to a question informed him that lie had a

vacancy on hoard. The lad was'sent out in n ferry boat and when being signed mi lie said he had been on board schooners in the 'l'ns'mnninu trade; Subsequently witness was informed that the lad was n deserter from the Hazel Craig', He, however, had already experienced'great, difficulty in getting the complement and did not think he was justified in going to any further expense in Rending; the lad nshorc. He admitted that, he hndlaiu in the stream, until January 28. lie mcnUfrom the Ind, stating that the .master'wan not aware that tlio Ind was a dosortor when ho signod on. Captain \Mareeil roinarkcd ■ that no ship .was safe if men,were allowed..to go from ship to another without being properly signed off. The Shipping Act was so framed ; t0 avoid these complications, .>' • ,: • ..'•-•" '",'•: .', The Chairman of.the Bcneji said ho j was • -satisfied that '-tho _mnstcr* kuow tho I'ospoiialblllty lio was takiiig'nncV'hnd not; taken proper steps to pr.qtect? the. Interests of- - the master of;;■ thei v ; TTnzel y , Ortiig,;..; JJpJondant. would -be convicted and fined