TROUBLE ON SHIP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22355, 28 February 1936, Page 15

TROUBLE ON SHIP

SIX MEN BEFORE COURT ABSENCE WITHOUT LEAVE FIVE SENT TO PRISON X "These men givo some terrible acfeounts of the ship," said Mr. Noble, counsel for members of the crew of the British steamer Simonside, who were charged in the Police Court yesterday with being absent without leave. The accused were Joseph Parkes, Patrick irons, John Henry Welsh, Henry Smith, John Kenny and Ualph Percy Sanderson. They pleaded not guilty. Appearing for the master of the ship, Captain John Thomas Nelson, Mr. Bruce Elliot said that the accused were arrested on Wednesday. Tlio Simonside had come from Manchester and they had given trouble at various ports during the voyage out. It had been found necessary to have them apprehended in Auckland for disobeying orders and > refusing to work. In evidence, Captain Nelson said that he had to take the men back with him as they were engaged in Manchester for the entire voyage. The six accused had refused to work and would go ashore without leave. The vessel arrived in Auckland on Friday, but since Monday they had not done any work and it had been found necessary to engage other men in their place, but some of these would not resume work yesterday because of the fear of injury from the accused when the vessel put to sea. Men's Allegations Denied To Mr. Noble, witness said that the accused had held up the ship at one port for eight hours at a cost of £45, and £ls of this amount would probably be deducted from their money. He domed the allegations made by the men concerning the conditions on board and also that they had not been paid money. ? "They are tho worst crowd ever I had, and I have been master of a ship for 30 years," said Captain Nelson. - One of the accused, Henry Smith, a fireman, in evidence, gave many reasons for his leaving the vessel without permission. He said there was no light in the forecastle and the crew were in darkness. Four other members ,pf the crew corroborated the evidence given by Smith. They admitted that they went ashore wjtiiout permission. They did not like to ask anyone for leave. The master and the conditions prevailing on the ship were the cause of the trouble. Comments by Magistrate Mr. Elliot asked thai the six men be detained until the skip was duo to sail, ir order that loading and unloading operations could be carried out without further trouble from them. Mr. Noble submitted that the men had reasonable excuses for being absent from the ship. The captain had deducted money from their wages and they did not "like the idea of going on working for nothing. In convicting the six men, Mr. Wvvern Wilson, S.M., said they knew quite well that if they had a grievance they should report it in the proper manner, to the port authorities. They had caused trouble and had been absent without leave or sufficient excuse. "There is one honest man among them, anyhow," said the magistrate. "That is Kenny. He admitted he was drunk and did not know a great deal about it. He will be convicted and discharged." The other five men were each sentenced to seven days' imprisonment and . ordered to be placed on the ship before jsailing..