OFF TO PRISON.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12718, 8 August 1934, Page 5

OFF TO PRISON.

70 SEAMEN SENTENCED.

CHEERY DEPARTURE. Electric Telegraph—tress Association GREYMOUTH, Last Night. A crowd approaching 2000 saw 70 seamen from five vessels depart by train at 7.40 p.m. for Papairua. Prison, Canterbury, after having four hours earlier been sentenced to a fortnight’s imprisonment with hard labour by Mr Morgan, S.M., following their conviction on Saturday on charges of combining to disobey lawful commands to take the Kaimiro, the Miaimai and the Poolta (Union vessels) and the Titoki and the Rata (Anchor vessels) to sea. When the Court sat at 2.20 p.m., Mr M. B. James, /the employers’ counsel, asked that the sentence he deferred until 3.30.

The Magistrate complied, stating he understood thajfc the negotiations for settlement were not completed. The Court was crowded at the resumption, bu*t the position was unchanged, although Mr James stated that the men had received advice to take the ships to sea from their executive.

PREPARED TO GO TO GAOL. Mr W. W. Gray, a seaman for the men, explained there was doubt regarding the information received, and that the men were in the same position as on Saturday. They were prepared to go to prison unless their request for a restoration of the cuts was granted. Mr James said he had been instructed that there had been no settlement. The men had been convicted under section 135 of the Seamen’s Act-, and the penalty provided was a month’s imprisonment or forfeiture of a month’s wages. His instructions ware to press for imprisonment. He understood that the men had been instructed by their executive to take the ships to sea., but had declined. He also asked that their contracts he cancelled as from Saturday. The Magistrate said he was doubtful if he could do that, as he understood the shipping authorities had power to dismiss the men for refusing duty. COMMANDS DISOBEYED.

Mr James said there was a dispute in existence. The Magistrate: But the men have been brought before me for failing to obey commands. It is a criminal chargeMr James asked if His Worship had intimated that, if the men were not reasonable under the circumstances, lie- would imprison them. The Magistrate: That is so. I made it quite clear that I intended to do that, and the men, I think, understood that.

Mr James said the men had defied the Court, and he asked His Worship to sentence each to a month’s impri sonment.

Mr Gray said the men would like an adjournment, as the present position was confusing. There had been confusion in regard to wires the seamen had received from Wellington. The Magistrate said nothing had been done to reach finality. “Are the men unanimous that they won’t take :tlie ships to sea P” he questioned. Mr Gipay: “They will stand as they were on Saturday unless they have something to go on. AVe are hound by the ship’s notifies and wo can’t walk off and can’t give notice to leave the ships. We wish to ask for leniency on behalf of two seamen, A. Rrondley, aged 18, on account of his youth, and F. Callaghan, who broke his wrist when falling on his ship that morning, both off the Kaim j ro.”

The Magistrate said the men had had every opportunity to settle the matter. It was a private prosecution, and there was no chance of a settlement. Tt was the duty of the Court to pass sentence. Dealing in turn with 71 men, the Magistrate sentenced each to 14 days’ imprisonment with hard labour at Papnrun prison. On charges of failing to rig gear and keep up steam, the men were convicted and discharged. Regarding the plea for Broadley, the Magistrate said he would not make differentiation in his case. Callaghan, who had a broken wrist, was convicted and discharged. CHEERED AT STATION. The seamen marched .to the Watersiders’ Union hall and then to their vessels for a. meal. In the evening they were provided with three steam-heated carriages for their overland journey on a goods train. S>ix policemen were in charge of the 70 seamen.

All were good-humoured and exchanged greetings with the crowd, both joining in songs. The Grey Y r alJe.Y Workers’ Union sent baskets of food for the prisoners, winch a constable duly carried aboard the train, to which a waggon was attached for the seamen’s luggage. Amid loud cheers the train departed on its journey, lasting about ten hours, the seamen being obviously com fort a ble. Their conduct- was orcierly throughout. They stated they had been well treated by everybody.