HOLD-UP OF STEAMER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19291, 1 April 1926, Page 12

HOLD-UP OF STEAMER.

DEMAND FOR HIGHER WAGES. CREW REFUSE TO SAIL. ONE MONTH'S IMPRISONMENT. RELEASE IF MEN REPENT. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHKISTCHURCH. Wednesday. Twenty-seven members of tbo crew of the steamer Crossbill, which recently completed discharge of her cargo of phosphate from Ocean Island at Lyttolton, but which has been held up since Monday evening, owing to the crew refusing to sail unless paid New Zealand rates of pay, appeared before Mr. 11. Y. Widdowson, S.M., in the Lyttellou Magistrate s Court on a charge of having, on March 29. combined with other members of the crew to impede the progress of Ihe vessel. Mr. J. li. Batchelor appeared for the defendants.

Thomas W, Stewart, master of the Cros&hill, stated in evidence that the agreement with the men was for a period of three years from the time they had signed on at 'Glasgow. When the vessel was on the coast of South America the rates obtaining thero were lower than those agreed to, but the latter rates had been paid just the same. When ho had spoken to the men collectively about their attitude they told him they intended to stick together and refused to ' withdraw their demands. Mr. Batchelor said the cases were the outcome of differences between the master and the men. When the men signed on they wero told that the vessel would make a trip to South America, then go to tho Islands and to Australia and Now Zealand, after which the vessel was to go back to England. It was subsequently learned that tho vessel was to be engaged in the trade between tho Islands and> Australia and New Zealand. TIIO Homo rates of wages for firemen wero £9 10s a month and £9 for seamen, whereas in New Zealand tho rates wero £ls 6s fid and £l4 6s Sd, respectively. He stated that on two other vessels which wero engaged in a similar trade the men had been paid New Zealand rates of pay. The men felt that as the;/ were good unionists they should get the higher rates of pay. The Magistrate: What happened when ■the men on tho two vessels mentioned Cot Ilorno ? Complaint as to Trealmcnt. Mr. Batchelor: There is some allegation that the increased wago was taken from them again. Counsel proceeding, stated that the men had been treated like dogs on the voyage and had not been fed properly, being kept without butter and other articles of food. The Magistrate: How long have they been in New Zealand ? Counsel: Eight days. The Magistrate: They have recovered all right. Mr Batchelor contended that tho men had not refused to carry out their duty. They were still, in fact, ready to take tho vessel from tho wharf. The Magistrate*. To where? Counsel: I don't know. Ted Welsh stated that when he had complained of the ration given the men the master said he could feed them better "on his own." John Currie, a well-set-up man of about 16st, a fireman, then entered the box, the magistrate remarking that ho was a healthy-looking specimen of manhood. The Magistrate (smilingly) : Were you starved on the island, too ? Witness: Yes, it was the worst starving I had for years. (Laughter.) In answer to Mr. Upham, witness said lie was prepared to take the vessel from the wharf, but as to what would happen when this had been done was a matter /or the officers to deal with, Men's Action Serious. In giving his decision, the magistrate stated that the evidence was quite clear that tho men had combined to impede tho progress of tho vessel. It was immaterial where tho action had taken place. With regard to the question of wages and food, these need not be taken into account at all by him; they could bo dealt with elsewhere. The question of food concerned the Court only in so far as mitigation of the penalty was concerned. He would have to sentence them each to four weeks' imprisonment with hard labour. However, if they changed their minds at any time and decided to tako the vessel to sea, they would bo liberated, as had been dona in previous cases. Ho stressed tho fact that the action of the men was a serious one, and was of a nature calculated to paralyse the whole of tho shipping industry.

Mr. Batchelor stated that lie had boon instructed to tell the Court that the men would not take the vessel to sea unless they were given the New Zealand rates of wages.. They were prepared to take the vessel into tho stream in order to save the company wharf charges, but would not do anything further. The position was that tho company would have to pay New Zealand rates to another crew should it ho engaged. Owing lo the Lyttelton lock-up being too small to accommodate them conveniently, the men were allowed to sleep on board the vessel to-night.