SEAMEN IN COURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19148, 14 October 1925, Page 10

SEAMEN IN COURT.

CREW OF THE RARANGA. TRIBUTE FROM CAPTAIN. ADJOURNMENT OF CHARGES. [by XELEGKAI'H. —PItESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNE DIN, Tuesday, Soon after nine o'clock this morning loud singing and the sound of many marching men roused the attention of those in the central business quarter of the city. The cause was a procession of 120 men with banners. The men marched to the Police Court where 58 seamen of the Raranga were charged with combining to refuse duty. The cases were adjourned until to-morrow to give them a last opportunity of resuming work, Mr. A. C. 11 anion prosecuted and Mr. 11. Braseli appeared for the men, who pleaded not guilty.

Mr. Hardon said members of the crew o: j the Raranga were asked to turn to in tne J stokehold but declined. Shortly after-, wards some of the men went to the captain and said they would not take the ship to sea. The captain's opinion was that the crew was a first-class one. "They are fighting for some principle,." said counsel, " and in order to bring about the desired result went on strike. Mr. Brasch submitted that there was no case to answer. The men were charged with having combined to resist lawful commands. It had to be proved that the commands were given, that they were lawful commands, and that the commands were disobeyed. Where, he asked, was evidence of any command ? They had the evidence of the captain and chief officer that the men were asked collectively and individually whether tney would take the ship to sea, but a mere request followed by a verbal negative, was not disobedience to command. The only command alleged was the command to take the ship to sea. Every command, counsel contended, was not a lawful command. In this case .there no such command. The magistrate said Mr. Brasch had presented a very ingenious explanation, but it was not substantial, llie evidence was particularly full and definite that collectively and individually they had refused to do a particular duty. We would like the men to be given an opportunity to resume duty on the ship," said Mr. Hanlon. This, he added, was a squabble that had started in. England and there it should be fought out. He repeated his request that the men be first given an opportunity -of rejoining their ship. " I would be very loath to send the men to gaol on this charge," said the magistrate. The captain had given them an excellent character. He would like to point out to the men that this was a matter in which neither the New Zealand public nor any organisation in NewZealand was directly concerned. In the ordinary course it ought to be fought out in England. He would be prepared to adjourn the proceedings with a view to the men returning to work. Mr. Brasch said he did not know what the men's opinion was in that matter. "These men," he added, "are not criminals." The Magistrate and Mr. Hanlon: There is no suggestion of that. To make the position quite clear the magistrate said the Court was not concerned with the shipping dispute and could not go into the merits or demerits of it. These men ITaTf committed a breach of the law and the penalty would have to be such as would bring about compliance with £Ee law and perhaps act- as a deterrent in such matters. An adjournment until to-morrow morning was decided on the magistrate remarking that- if the position solved itself these charges would not be gone on with.