FIERY FIREMEN

NZ Truth, Issue 1200, 29 November 1928, Page 3

FIERY FIREMEN

Assault On Captain and Engineer Of Steamer SKIPPER'S BITTER HUMBLE PIE (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Representative.)

i Life at sea has altered m recent years. Time was when § 1 mutiny and insubordination to ship's authority were greet- jf | ed with belaying pins and no parley until after the pieces had j | been picked up. But times have changed, m many ways for 1 I the : better, but not altogether. ' |

/^APTAINS of overseas liners, it \s would seem, must now bow the knee. As an illustration to support this contention, the disgraceful brawl that occurred on the "Port Darwin" as She lay at the wharf m Auckland recently may U6 cited. Here was a case where the captain of the ship had to eat humble pie at the behest of a pack of truculent firemen, who not only raised their voices against authority, but, put both blows and boots into the argument. The captain of the ship was attacked, as were others who came to his assistance. When the row had blown over, Cap- ___________ tain Saw bridge requested the police not to make any arrests and actually signed at the behest of the men who had assaulted him, a written undertaking that there would be no intimidation and that they would not be given bad records when they arrived back m England! Oh! traditions of the mercantile marine, where are you to-day? The trouble started when the vessel was on the way to Auckland from Gisborne. The firemen refused to carry out certain work m the bunkers and on arrival m Auckland they were fined by Magistrate Hunt. The following morning they went ashore and returned to the ship soon after midday m a bellicose mood. The chief engineer was the first to be assaulted, and thereafter the scene resembled a Donnybrook Fair.

Under Instructions

Captain Sawbridge was struck during 1 the melee, and another man, a shore official of the Commonwealth and Dominion Line, had his teeth knocked down his throat. Thirteen policemen were hurried to the scene, but they did not interfere nor were any arrests made. This inaction on the part of the police was due to the captain's request, the reason given being- that the ship would otherwise be held up. It was after the row that the firemen concerned made their demands for an Indemnity m writing, and although at first this was refused, the captain finally capitulated. And so the incident closed, the ship sailing about an hour later. "N.Z. Truth" does not blame the captain altogether for knuckling under to the demands of an unruly mob of firemen.

There is good reason for saying that he was merely acting under instructions, and that the undignified course pursued was followed because of the fear of the ship being held up indefinitely and possible complications with the union. j Be this as, it may, the incident reflects little credit on the present-day system of enforcing authority on shipboard. Democracy is a fine thing, but flagrant rebellion as a protest against grievances, however justified they may be, is alien to all maritime tradition 1 of the British race.