MANNING A SHIP

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13875, 8 October 1908, Page 6

MANNING A SHIP

BOATSWAIN AS ABLE SEAMAN. [BY TELEGRAPH.-PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Dunedjn, Wednesday. At the Police Court this morning Captain Newton, of the s.s. Moana, was proceeded against by the Marine Department on a charge of proceeding to sea on August 21, on the voyage from Wellington to Lyttelton, without having the full crew on board prescribed by the Act, viz., nine able seamen, instead of 10. • Coll McDonald, master mariner, v.as charged with committing a similar breach on August 25 with the same steamer, having the same complement on the voyage from Lyttelton to Port Chalmers. It appeared that owing ot a seaman deserting the steamer, left Auckland a man short, and Captain Newton went on to Lyttelton without signing on another man, while Captain McDonald teok the steamer to Dunedm, where she was tc be laid up. Mr. White, for defendants, said the fact . was that a man. not- being tak<»n on was an oversight, but the company wished to have a definite decision as to whether the boatswain could be included among the A.B.'s. The Moana carried a boatswain, who was an A.8., and counsel submitted that under the _ Act he could be so included. The crew on the Molina was quite sufficient under the schedule, since there was nc doubt the boatswain was working as an A.B. Judgment, was reserved.