SHIP DESERTERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23482, 20 October 1939, Page 8

SHIP DESERTERS

SERIOUSNESS OF OFFENCE PRISON FOR TWO MEN "I am not going to countenance a lot of desertions from the merchant marine because men want to go into camp," said Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., after sentencing two seameu who appeared in the Police Court yesterday on charges of deserting from their ship. "It cannot be tolerated as far as I am concerned," added the magistrate. The two men were Patrick O'Callaghan, agod 17,' and Frank Jones, aged 43, who pleaded guilty to charges of deserting from a British cargo steamer at Auckland on October 16. Jones said the master of the ship had told him he could join the army if he could get u man to replace him. The captain, however, later refused to pay him off. O'Cnllaghnn said 'no had been allowed to leave the ship for several weeks. A representative of the ship's agents stated that the vessel was delayed for a day because the two men were not replaced. "The desertions from merchant ships have been serious for some time," said the magistrate. "They are still more serious at the present time and some steps must be taken to prevent them. We cannot have men deserting from the mercantile marine."

Both men were sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for one month. O'Callaghan will ho placed on hoard a ship for Great Britain when available on his discharge from hospital, where he is being treated. Jones will be placed on any ship leaving for Great Britain during that period. Sub-Inspector Pender, referring to comment by the magistrate, said lie supposed men received bettor pay in camp than on ships.