CREW REFUSE DUTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18565, 24 November 1923, Page 13

CREW REFUSE DUTY.

titAOL - PREFERRED ~TO SHIP. THE TRELEVAN TROUBLE. I ' —-/ v ~ r ' ONE MONTH'S IMPRISONMENT. Preferring to go to gaol rather than to return to work on board then- ship 20 in embers of the crew of the steamer Trelovan were sentenced to one month's imprisonment by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., jn the. Police Court yesterday afternoon cm a charge of combining to disobey lawful commands, while tiie vessel was anchored in port. On Wednesday, 22 of the men were fined for wilful disobedience of a lawful command. They refused to pay the fines and were arrested and taken to gaol. They were escorted back to the ship yesterday morning. The £0 men before the Court yesterday were : <T. Leask, J. Caruana, W. Vinard, J. Bruce, N. Wenstromm and E. S. Rodda, seamen; J. Crossby, R. Baker, A* Vass, ,1. Fisher, P. Carter, P. Mangion, W. Fall an, J. McMurray, G. Simpson, G. Peterson and D. Gillie, • firemen and trimmers; T. Henderson, steward; A. T. AVoakry, cook; and J, Newscombc, assistant cook.

They were represented by Mr. Luxford and denied tin charges. Mr. Bagnall appeared for the company. The master of the Trelevan gave evidence that on their return to the ship yesterday the men were mustered in the Pidcon. Ho gave then an order to turn to and received the reply "no" from all the men together. After that he asked Rny man who wished to turn to to speak up. No one replied. Ooss-examined witness said he die?! not *-member the exact words ho used.*' Mr. Luxford : I suggest that your words to them were : " Are you prepared to take the ship to sea? " —I am. not certain of the exact words I used. The Hen's Contentions. To the Magistrate witness said the fliip was at anchor ready to sail for tydney The pilot was on board. The chief . engineer and chief officer pave evidence that the men were asked if they were going to take the ship to sea and if they ■ were going to turn to. Tho men all answered " no." Seageant Flanagan gave evidence that the general conversation on the way to the ship was that the men were not going to work Mr. Luxford submitted that the evidence for the prosecution showed that all that had taken place was that a question had been asked and the men had answered " no." He submitted that it. had not been proved that tho men had disobeyed a command and no offence had been committed. The Magistrate : Well I am against you. These men refused to pay a modest fine yesterday and "this morning told the sergeant be could take them back to gaol again. They would not go to work, and they refused to do their duty. In the magistrate's opinion the men's action constituted an offence. Mr. Hunt (to accused) ; Are you prepared to go back to the ship? The men {in a chorus) : No, sir. Men's Alleged Grievances. At the magistrate's suggestion Crossley, acted as spokesman, and stated their grievances regarding payment of wages He admitted that legally the men were not entitled to money at present. Mr. Hunt: Say you got a promise of fc pay in Sydney, -would you go back to (work? Crossley : I would still refuse to sail. Mr. Hunt: Oh, would you. After considerable discussion and after the captain explained the stand he; had taken the magistrate said he did; not want to send' the men to Mount Eden Pnd suggested that they should consider the matter, to see if, in view of the captain's promise of a pay in Sydney, they would go back to their ship. The men retired for a few minutes, but en their return Mr. Luxford said they were unanimous about not going back to the ship. - - ■ <>■-' ■ The Magistrate (to the men) : You prefer going to gaol to going back to the phip?— ' ' The food is better in gaol than on the ship—it's nearly starvation there," said one man. '

'* Very well. I'm ,"ferry,"- said the magistrate " One month's imprisonment." _ .''-.v.'.'

The trouble with her crew has delayed .indefinitely the departure of the Hain steamer Trelevan, which, having discharged a cargo of phosphates at the Central Wharf, was taken out ter an anchorage in , the stream yesterday morning, preparatory to sailing for Newcastle. It will be necessary for her to engage a rew crew. „. ■ , ■. ,