THE MARAMA HOLD-UP.

Otago Witness, Issue 3624, 28 August 1923, Page 27

THE MARAMA HOLD-UP.

THIRTY-ONE MEN SENTENCED. AUCKLAND, August 25. Thirty-one members of the stokehold crew of the Marama were each sentenced in the Police Court to one month’s imprisonment for combining on the high seas to disobey the lawful command of the master. When the Marama was about to leave the wharf about 11 a.i7i. yesterday a representative of the union, named Flynn, discovered that one man engaged was not a member of the union and had no certificate of discharge as a fireman. On behalf of the men he mounted the bridge and complained to the captain. In evidence, Captain Clift said the vessel was then in motion, and the lines cast off. He ordered the man down. Flynn came up again later when the ship was near the channel buoys, and the captain said he would deal with the matter when further out. When three miles out the ship almost stopped for want of steam, and the stokehold crew were mustered. Each man individually refused duty. The Marama then put back, the junior engineers _,doing the necessary stoking, the men’s refusal being persisted in. All were arrested by the waterside police. Henry Flynn said he mounted the bridge when the gangway was still out at 10.45 a.m. The vessel was not under way. When the captain heard the complaint he said: “I’ve got nothing whatever to do with unionism. If you don’t get off the bridge I’ll gaol you.” He (Flynn) replied: “Go your hardest, then.” Mr Holmden raised the defence that the vessel was not on the high seas when the men decided not to work. The vessel was then at the wharf. Mr Bagnali, for the prosecution, submitted that it had been a combination agreed on at the wharf, but persisted in on the high seas. Mr J. W. Poynton, S.M.. said it was a serious matter that men for a triviality could hold up a big ship and 240 passengers. It was unionism of a fanatical nature, and the men were cutting their own throats. They had nothing to gain by such action. All friends of unionism would be much distressed. The matter could have been dealt with in Sydney on arrival of the vessel there. In passing sentence he said : “I don’t want to give you 12 months, but you must be severely punished on the charge of individually disobeying commands.” Each was convicted and ordered to share the costs of the prosecution.