DISCHARGING SEAMEN

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7852, 14 July 1911, Page 1

DISCHARGING SEAMEN

CAPTAINS BEFORE THE COURT. Two cases of more than ordinary interest to shin masters were before Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, when Richard i.T. Smith, master' of Hie steamer Mokcda, was charged with having discharged a seaman on board the vessel. Walter Manning, captain of tho Mararoa, appeared on two similar charges. The informations were laid under section 55 of tho Shipping and Seamen Act, 1908, as amended, which provides that seamen must be discharged before a Government Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine. Captain G. G. Smith, Superintendent of Mercantile Karine, prosecuted, and Mr P. W. Jackson appeared for each defendant. Captain Smith, of the Mokoia, stated he had no wish to evade the Act, but at the time he dismissed the man the shipping office was closed. The man—a oook—was too ill to go to tho shipping office even if it had l/een open.—Tho infilrniatiou was dismissed.

In regard to tho charges against Captain Manning, the defence in one case was tho same as that put forward by Captain Smith, and the information was dismissed. In tho second case tho man was transferred to another vessel after the shipping office had been closed, and a conviction was entered, defendant being ordered to pay costs 7s. Ills Worship said that masters of vessels most recognise that seamen must bo discharged in accordance with the Act. In cases of illness masters were empowered to discharge seamen, but they should see that entries to that effect were made in the log book.