DESERTION FROM SHIP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25804, 27 March 1945, Page 3

DESERTION FROM SHIP

YOUNG SEAMEN IN COURT

BAD CONDITIONS ALLEGED What they described as the intolerable conditions existing on the overseas vessel in which they served were put forward as the excuse for their desertion by four young British seamen who appeared before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., in the City Police Court yesterday. Three of them, Arthur George Woods, aged 17, Alexander William Mills, aged 18, and Peter Michael Tucker, aged 21, had been remanded when they appeared in court on Friday last. The fourth, Frederick Shennan Patterson, aged 17, voluntarily surrendered to the police on Saturday as the others had done earlier. All four pleaded guilty. Tucker was represented by Mr J. P. Ward.

Senior Sergeant D. Vaughan said that Patterson had been nearly two years at sea. His wages would be forfeited as a result of his desertion. Mr Ward said that Tucker had been five years at sea, and had a mother and sister dependent on his allotments. He had been ill in Panama, having been taken off another ship for treatment before joining the vessel from which he deserted. He was anxious to join another ship. Patterson, Mr Ward said, was a cadet officer, and his desertion would mean the loss of two years’ indentures. The four men had deserted individually, and there had been no collusion. What amounted practically to starvation conditions had existed on the latter part of the trip, even the staple articles of diet beine lacking. The captain had been unpopular, and in Wellington had dismissed his first mate and wireless operator.

The magistrate interrupted Mr Ward to say that lie could not accept such statements, as the captain of the ship was not present to refute them. Mr Ward added that the men had no money, and they were anxious to secure employment. Tucker desired to return to sea immediately in order that his allotment could be continued. An official of the Marine Department produced a communication from the ship's agents stating that seven men in all had deserted.

Senior Sergeant Vaughan said some cf the men had obtained casual labour en route to Dunedin.

The magistrate: It is strange that these deserters could get employment, and yet residents cf New Zealand would probably be prosecuted for contravening the man-power regulations. Replying to questions by the magistrate, Tucker and one of the other defendants expressed their willingness to return to sea at once. Patterson gave the same reply, but added that he would prefer to serve on a New Zealand ship. The fourth young man expressed a desire to obtain work in New Zealand.

“ These cases are most difficult,” said the magistrate. ‘‘All four are decent young men, and yet they deserted from their ship, which is a serious offence in war-time. They allege that their desertion was caused by conditions on the vessel, but these allegations are easy to make after the ship has sailed.” His Worship added that in view of the youth of the four accused they would be placed on probation for a year, and he directed that they should be placed on other vessels when suitable employment was available.