STOWAWAY NUISANCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22723, 8 November 1935, Page 13

STOWAWAY NUISANCE

PROBLEM TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY REPRESENTATIONS TO LEAGUE OF NATIONS. Owing to economic conditions in various parts of the world there has been a decided increase in the number of stowaways in vessels during the last two years, and shipowners have decided to tackle the problem seriously. At a conference of shipmasters and officers- of the northern countries, held in Oslo recently, the question of stowaways came under discussion, and a resolution was passed asking the Governments of Scandinavian countries to make joint representations to the League of Nations with a view to discussing the matter and preparing a convention on the subject. In some parts of the world the stowaway nuisance has assumed grave proportions, causing trouble and expense to the shipowner and heavy responsibility on ships’ officers. The stowaway cannot be landed wherever the ship may call, because of the strict immigration laws now in force, and it sometimes happens that the difficulty in proving the nationality of the stowaway, whatever his claim may be, is such that the shipowner incurs the risk of having to take charge of him for an indefinite period, MANY LONG VOYAGES.

There have been instances where a stowaway has been taken halfway round the world at the expense of the shipowner before being allowed to land. It has happened that a stowaway from Australia or New Zealand has been taken to Britain and back tc the port where he came on board, and there refused admission to the country on account of his circumstances and the fact that he was unable to satisfy the authorities in either country. Captain Tonnesen, at the conference at Oslo, suggested a convention enabling ships to get rid of stowaways at the first port of call, where they could be handed to the police. Such a convention would, he believed, be almost enough to stop the trouble. There is on record a case where a ship sailed from the River Plate, and had not got far out when 30 stowaways were hunted out from different parts of the vessel. When mustered before the captain, it was found that the stowaways outnum-

bered the crew, which placed the captain and officers in an awkward predicament, for there was the possibility that the stowaways might try to take charge of the vessel. But all ended well, and the unwelcome visitors were sent back to port SEARCHING THE SHIP. It has become the routine In a large number of ports for a vessel to lay off for an hour or more after leaving a wharf while it is thoroughly searched for possible stowaways, but, even so, there are numerous hiding places in a large vessel, and with the help of a member of the crew —this has been knovai to happen —it is possible to elude tne searchers. Girl stowaways are, of course, extremely rare, but only a few weeks ago there was a girl stowaway from Australia in the sailing ship C. B. Pedersen. How she remained on board three days without being discovered remains a mystery. In 99 cases out of 100 she would have been voted a nuisance, but it so happened that the captain was at a loss for someone to look after his four women passengers, and the stowaway, instead of being severely reprimanded, was appointed stewardess.