THE NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15761, 12 May 1913, Page 5

THE NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTURE FRO H AUCKLAND

(Per UNim Pbjj 5s Association.)

AT JGKLAND,' May 10. After a stay of \q days in Auckland H.M.S: New Zeala-j,} i o f t at 9 o'clock this morning for Lytte> on . a fair number of people gathered t> see the vessel off, but as she will return :'t o Auckland before leaving finally, ther t was n0 formal demonstration of fareijpl^

TROUBLE WITH DESERTERS.

WARN't'XG TO THE PUBLIC.

(Per United Press Association.) ■ AUCKLAND, May 11. Ton me - a W erc missing, from tlio New Zealand whijfi s| )o l o ft Auckland- on Saturday morning. Of three others who improperly absence & themselves from the ship during her stjy ] lcre) ono WUI3 arrested,'and the other .-two returned to.duty It is also reportf/;'( that several men dseerted from the ship at Wellington, s ' y p\ important etatment was made to-day by ■ the Minister of Justice (the Hon. Mr H/rdman). He. said it had been brought to 1' h notice th#t in one respect those responsible for the battle cruiser New Zealand and the. ship's company were not re- / ceiving fair treatment at the "hands of a few f thoughtless people in the conummity. In- ' formation ■in his pos-soakm made it clear that there was little doubt that men from the cruiser were frequently enticed to desert from the service by some employers of labour under the promiso of high wages. '" Liberty men when. on shore are given plain cloShcs to enable; them to desert." -Mi' Herdman stated. " I know of ono specific instance of two men who, having been per- ' suaded to desert more or less against their will, and having later on repented of thoitdecision. experienced ■ difficulty in . getting away to return to .-their duty. Besides this, liquor has -been taken on board and given to the men by visitors to the ship. No doubt this l»as been done in a spirit of kindness, but it is grossly unfair 'to "Captain Halsey anil, his officers, whose, duty it is to keep the New Zealand fully manned. It is perhaps r/ot well known that persons who assist or 7>ersuado men to desert from a ship of '/ar are liable to bo prosecuted. For the information of the public, I -had flutter quote the section of the Imperial Statute 'in force in New Zealand—"The Discipline Act, 1866,'—which deals with ca»3cs of interference with men who are <->er\Aig the King! They are as follow:— 'Section 24: If any person not subject to this Act assists or procures any person subject to this Act to desert or improperly absent himself from his duty, or conceals, 'flfploys, or continues to employ any person subject to this Act who is a deserter, jo: improperly absent from-his duty, knowZing him to 'be a deserter or so improperly lj absent, he shall, for every such offence of I assistance, procurement, concealment, employment, or continuance of employ- . incut, bo liable, on 6urrrmaiy conviction thereof before a justic or justices, or before any person or persons or court exercising like authority in any part of his Majesty's dominions, to a penalty not exceeding £30, and notwithstanding anything in any Act relating to municipal corporations or to the metropolitan police, or; any other Act, every such penalty shall 1/e applied as the Admiralty direct. Section 26: If any person not subject to this. )Act by words or otherwise persuades any • person subject to this Act to desert-or imj properly absent himself from his dutv, he 1 shall for even- such offence be liable on conviction thereof before a justice or justices, or before any person or persons or court exercising like authority in any part of his Majesty's dominions to a penalty not exceeding £20, and notwithstanding anything in any Act relating to municipal corporations, or to the mctro- ;, .politan police, or in any-other Act every such penalty shall be applied as the Admiralty direct.' I recognise that the people .of New Zealand warmly amrcciate the courtesy, consideration, and kindness extended to them by Captain Halsey and his officers since the ship arrived in New Zealand waters. I know that people ardently i wish to help them, but they can best help and best display loyalty to the King by assisting the captain to keen safely "everv ; member of his crew whilst in this 'country and by making up their minds that when the ship takes her departure she- will c»rrv with'her every man who came with her to New Zealand. I believe that this only needs pointing out and citizens of New Zealand will ,it once understand what their duty is. It has been said to me that ovorv man who leaves the ship lessens the •might of the «bip. and I have been informed that in. more than one case men of some years standing have since Iheir arrival *n New Zealand risked their future of. promotion and pension bv giving way under the ti-motation which they have been snbjpctcd. Jt is a great pity that this should be so." The. Minister addr-d that, prcoeedincs would ho commenced against persons who hud procured or liersunded sailors to desert or imnroperlv absont themselves from the New Zealand. The-oasts reported wie being investigated, and if evidence just. ; fin<l the necessary informations > would be laid at once. .