SHIP DESERTERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23339, 6 May 1939, Page 12

SHIP DESERTERS

TWO YOUNG GERMANS PERMITTED TO REMAIN CONDITIONS IMPOSED ROMANCE PLAYS A PART [by telegraph—OWN* correspondent] NEW PLYMOUTH, Friday Romance played a part in the desertion* of a German sailor from the barque Kommodore Johnsen when the North German Lloyd training ship was at Auckland last February. Ho had met at New Plymouth a young woman of whom he became enamoured, and it was because of her that he left the Ship and returned to Taranaki. This was disclosed when Karl Schroeder and Hans Kobald appeared in the New Plymouth Court to-day on remand on charges of desertion from the Kommodore Johnsen. The informations against Schroeder and Kobald for landing in . New Zealand without permits were withdrawn by the Collector of Customs, Mr. J. M. O'Reilly, and on charges of desertion they were convicted and admitted to probation for five years, and prohibited from associating with any seamen who might be in port as members of the crew of any German ships. Propagandists not Wanted

"I don't, want tliese young men to become propagandists for other German deserters," commented the magistrate, Mr. W. H. Woodward, in passinc sentence.

Mr. O'Reilly said the Minister of Customs had granted permission for these young men to remain in New Zealand on certain conditions, which had been fulfilled. He therefore asked leave to withdraw the informations against them. "The onus was placed on me," he. added, "of seeing that the conditions were carried out, and I have satisfied myself that they have been satisfactorily fulfilled."

The conditions were that they should pay the costs of the proceedings against them and of their being in custody, and they also had to find sureties for their good behaviour for a term of five j'ears. Fell in Love at Party Dealing with the case of Schroeder's desertion, Senior-Sergeant -K. T. C. Turner said that while the ship was at New Plymouth he attended a party on December 27 and fell in love with a young New Plymouth lady, with whom an arrangement was made that he should desert the ship at Auckland. This he did, and arrived back in New Plymouth on February 8. He met the young lady, and also a young man, and was taken to a farm in the country, where he was given work. Subsequently, on the advice of the young lady, he confessed to the. farmer that he was a deserter from the German ship, and he intended giving himself up to the police. He was described as a good worker and trustworthy, and the farmer was prepared to take him back to work. A Native of Austria Kobald, continued the senior sergeant, had little knowledge of English. He was a native of Austria He came to Taranaki from Auckland, and was arrested at Lepperton. where he was working on a farm. Both men had been in custody since their arrest.

Mr. Weston, who appeared for the accused, said they had been in custody for a month. He submitted that no further penalty should be imposed.

Mr. Woodward said he did not want to encourage deserters from German ships in this country, and he thought some hold should be maintained over these men. Magistrate's Confidence "If they should prove to be disloyal to this country, what is to be done with them?" asked the magistrate. "At the present time there is power for the Court to put them on a German ship and return then! to their own country. 1 think that power should be retained in case of necessity, although I think these young men will become good citizens." He then fixed a term of probation, for the purpose indicated, and explained its effect to the accused.