TREATMENT OF SEAMEN.

NZ Truth, Issue 68, 6 October 1906, Page 8

TREATMENT OF SEAMEN.

TO THE EDITOB,

Sir,— We want to tell you of a state of things which has existed on the wharf here for some time, arid to ask for your powerful aid to bring about a change for the better by insisting on an en-duiry being held. The position is this. It fre-ciuently happens that ocean-going vessels, after discharging the whole or part of their cargo here, desire to ship men for "the run" to some other port m the colony. Signing-on for the run is a recognised employment, and when the Shipping Master carries- out his duties properly, as at Auckland, Dunedin and Lyttelton, and doesn't side with the owners every time, there is no cause for complaint. But Mr Smith, the Shipping Master here, seems to think that his only duty is to help and protect the owners. He never helps the sailor-man at all. A case m point is the barque Brunnel, now lying here. For some days past her skipper has been trying | to sign on six men, four to replace men who have left, and two to re- | place men m hospital. He at first offered £5 a man for the run to Dunedin, and no on-s, eithex foreigners or New Zealanders would accent, as we all wanted £7, a fair wage oh this dangerous coast for sailing m a "light" ship, for she has hardly any cargo left m her. Be has now signet? on four 'men from England at £6, but failed to secure the other two. Yesterday he got his two sick men out of Hospital and brought them to the wharf. He told them m the hearing of a crowd that if they did not no on board he would give Ihem m charge. And he further said to them that he did not want them on board to work, but simply to count as two men, thus makine; up his legal number. In this wav the shin practically would lie sail me short-handpd to the extent of two ft.B.'s, ami the rest of the crew would have io do the work of these two men as well

[as their own, whilst ke would save j about £10 m wages. " However, the men seemed so ill, one apparently •with pleurisy and the other with a bad leg, that Mr Young, secretary of the Seamens' Union, was sent for. As soon as he saw them he had them put into a cab and sent to a doctor, and he can confirm this. Mr Smith knew these two men were m hospital and he ought to have told the captain not to attempt to ship them until he (Mr Smith) had satisfied him- 1 self that they were fit for full duty, and he should have seen any certificate given by the Hospital doctor, who probably only certified that they, were fit to leave the Hospital, which is very different from bedng able to do a day's work. This Shipping Master neglects his duty m other ways, for -he constantly, where the skipper and the qualified sailors cannot agree as to pay for tlie "run," allows men to be signed on whose discharges show that they are not entitled to tlie they sign for, and also men who are too drunk to know what they are doing. This is a disgraceful state of things and we want you to press for an enquiry into the way Mr Smitli carries out his duties.— l- am, &c., 'JAMES SINCLAIR, [ Seaman. (Por a number of his mates.)' j '40 Ghuznee-street. I Wellington,* Oct. 3, '06.