GENERAL TELEGRAMS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12249, 22 September 1925, Page 11

GENERAL TELEGRAMS

SEAMEN FINED DEMONSTRATION AT AUCKLAND OTHER CHARGES PENDING. Per Press Assoriation AUCKLAND, September 21. Thirteen seamen from the steamer Waimana were charged in the Police Court to-day with unlawfully absenting themselves from the vessel. A large number of seamen marched from the wharf to the court bearing banners with the inscriptions, “We Prefer Gaol to Starvation Wages’’ and “Heroes, 1914; Slaves, 1925.” Mr McVeagh, for the master of the ship, said the defendants represented only a part of the crew. In the first instance, the whole of the ship’s complement, with the exception of the officers, went ashore—about half the men had now returned and were performing routine duties, hut none of the defendants had gone back. There were further informations pending against them for combining to neglect their duty. It was proposed to ask that these should be adjourned. In reference to the present charges the court was empowered to order forfeiture of a portion of the men’s wages, and also to order their return to the vessel, which was waiting to sail for America and England. The necessity of having a crew on board was demonstrated on Sunday night when the vessel dragged her anchors in a high wind, and steps had to he taken to ensure her safety. Tho magistrate, Mr Cutten, S.M., ordered each man to be returned to the vessel, and to forfeit £2 15s, including os costs, and the other charges were adjourned until Wednesday, September 30th. The three seamen from the steamer Matakana were ordered to return to the ship, and forfeit £2 18s each, for unlawfully absenting themselves from the ship, and the oharges of combining to negleot their duty were adjourned to September 30th. / The men marched hack to the wharf to the accompaniment of the dirge, “Ate we downhearted?—No.”