CREW REFUSES BUTT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18563, 22 November 1923, Page 10

CREW REFUSES BUTT.

TROUBLE ON THE TRELEVAN.

TWENTY-TWO MEN FINED.

DISPUTE * OVER 1 DRAW ON' WAGES.

Trouble on the' steam <» Trelovan resulted in 22 members of the crew being prosecuted in the Police Court " yesterday for wilful disobedience of •' a lawful command while the vessel was in port. The men, who were represented by - Mr. Holmden, included seamen, firemen and members of the galley staff. "'[ They were: G. Leask, J. Caruana, W. Viniird, v J. Bruce and N. Wenstromm, seamen .;« J. Crossley/R. Baker, A. Vass, J. Fisher, P. Mangion, W. Fallan, J. McMurray, G. Simpson, G. Peterson and D. Gillie, firemen, and trimmers P. R. Davies, assistant steward; A. T. Woakey, cook; and J. Newscome, assistant cook. ' Accused, who appeared on summons, pleaded guilty. Mr. Bagnall, ' .'or the shipping company, said many of the men had. been on the boat for a considerable time, and were a good - class; the captain had not had any trouble with them before. This trouble was attributed to' an influence in port. On the night of Monday, November 32, the men returned to '\o> ship under the influence of drink, with the result that a bad melee occurred on board and the captain was assaulted. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.: What! The captain was assau'ted ? No Meals Cooked in Galley. Mr. Bapnall: * Yes, and the man who assaulted him is now in gaol. Continuing, counsel said the captain decided that there would be no more pay for the men in Auckland. On Tuesday the men' asked for a draw on their pay. This was not granted in view of what . had previously occurred. When accused were ordered to turn to they refused and had done no work since. No meals were being cooked on the boat' by the- galley staff, v and the chief steward was cooking for

these men. / " ", ' Mr. Hunt: Is he ?,» I'd let them starve. On behalf of the men Mr. Holmden said that though a technical breach had been committed the defence was that the men were in order in their demands, as though the vessel/ was on English articles she was engaged in the intercolonial trade and so came within the scope of the Shipping and Seamen Act, which/ there was provision' that the mtn were entitled to be paid monthly. In extenuation of the men's action counsel said there had been dissatisfaction previously because on 1 the trip, to Qceajj Island the men had been on very short rations and while they were in the tropics the 'water had been cut off and the key kept on the bridge, the men haying to ask for a drink. • \:' ■ '"/;'•" " ' '%'. Tie magistrate %aid he could not listen to these contentions. The men had their remedy for such complaints , " The Captain's Version. . Counsel submitted that the cause of the trouble was the captain's refusal to pay the men, an! the present position would not have arisen, if he had met them. v They were a "good lot of fellows." •.. ■ :■■■:■■,:' y I . ' Mr. Hunt; They could have gone to the shipping office and so got paid. ._■• Mr. Holmden: And have been victimised for the rest of '.' the voyage. ; : • The Magistrate: Probably they would have cleared out here. ■«*-. In reply Ja the magistrate Mr. Bagnall said the captain informed him that the men asked for a certain amount of their wages on account, and what they asked for was given them. They then wanted i further draw. ; Regarding \ the complaint its "to food the- captain v had, as a favour, procured an extra amount of fresh meat. ' The water had been turned off in the tropics as .the men were wasting it and there was a danger of a shortage. % Five men. Simpson, Crossley, ; L«»ask, Bruce and Caruan*, who, were stated to 1 be the ringleaders, were each fined £2 and costs, and the remainder were fined £1 and costs. The magistrate told accused they knew very well that if they had a grievance there was a proper channel for the complaint. j .■, •:..'■