SHIP'S FIREMEN CHARGED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16583, 5 July 1917, Page 6

SHIP'S FIREMEN CHARGED.

ALLEGED SEDITIOUS STRIKE. IJBT TELEGRAPH. —PE.ESS ASSOCIATION".]

WELLINGTON. Wednesday. At the Magistrate's Court this afternoon, eight firemen, belonging to a collier on special service—G. Anscombe, W. M. Green, Robert Hand, John Matthews, W. Major, Charles McLean, W. Sime, and P. Fitshail—were charged with being parties to a seditions strike. Mr. P. S. K. Macassey, of the Crown Law Office, who appeared for the prosecution, said proceedings had been taken under regulation 2, which provided penalties for a "seditious" strike. The steamer in question arrived in New Zealand in June last, from Newcastle. Some trouble arose in regard to* cooking meals on the boat. The trouble on the collier, which was being used to coal a Horn* liner, delayed the latter for four days, costing the owners £60 a day extra and causing great inconvenience. It was found impossible to get 1 new crew of firemen for the collier. Counsel contended that men in concert deciding not to sign on had been guilty of a breach of the regulation. He would not deny that any one fireman, if he wanted to sign off the vessel, had a perfect right to do so, but the fault in the present case lay in the fact that the men had acted in concert. The case for the prosecution was heard and the case adjourned until Monday.