MARAMA'S RETURN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16213, 25 August 1923, Page 5

MARAMA'S RETURN.

HELD UP IN AUCKLAND

TROUBLE WITH CREW.

(per -Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, last night.

Tho Marama sailed for Sydney at 11.30 to-day,- but returned ,to port at 1.45 p.m., "owing to tho stokehold crew refusing to do duty. The ship remains at her anchorage, and her 240 passengers and mails have been transferred to tho Niagara, which leaves to-night. The cause of the trouble was the presence of a non-unionist in the stokehold.- Upon the vessels return to tho harbor this man said he would sign off, but the men then made a new grievance. They refused to sail with Captain Cliff, presumably because he had ordered tho ringleader off tho bridgo when ho arrived to mako a complaint when the ship was leaving the wharf. The thirty-one stokers have been arrested on a charge of refusing duty on the high sea's, their disobedience having taken place outside the' three-mile limit, and they will como boforo the Court to-morrow.

In tho meantime, it is not known when tho Marama will get away for Sydney. As her passengers were able to transfer to the Niagara without delay, however, the action of the stokehold crew has caused the minimum of inconvenience.

POLICE COURT PROCEEDINGS.

ONE MONTH'S IMPRISONMENT.

(Per PrP<i<- Association.)

AUCKLAND, this day.

Thirty-one members of the stokehold crow of tho Marama were each sentenced at the Police Court to one month's imprisonment for combining on the high seas to disobey tho lawful commands of the master. When tho Marama was about to leave the.wharf yesterday, a representative of the union, Mr. Flynri, discovered that one man engaged was not a member of the union and had no certificates of discharge as a fireman. On behalf of the men he mounted tho bridge and complained to the captain. \. In his evidence, Captain Cliff said tho vessel was then in motion, tho lines being cast off. He ordered the man down. Flynn came up again later when tho ship was near the channel buoys, and the captain said he would deal with tho'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:; Tho Marama then put back, the junior engineers stoking. Tho refusal being persisted in, all were arrested by the waterside police. Henry Flynn, a delegate, 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 tho complaint ho said, "I've got nothing whatever to do with unionism. If you don't get off the bridge I'll gaol you." Flynn replied, "Go your hardest then." '

Mr. Holden raised a defence that the vessel was not on the high seas. The men decided not to work when tho vessel was at tho wharf. .

Mr. Bagnall, for the prosecution, submitted there had been a combination agreed at the wharf, but it was persisted in on the high seas. The magistrate, Mr. Poynton, said it was a serious matter that men for a triviality could hold up a big ship with 240 passengers. It was unionism of a fanatical nature, and the men were cut-

ting 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. In passing sentence he said: "I don't want to give 12 months, but you must be severely punished." On a charge of individually disobeying tho command, each was convicted and ordered to share the cost of the prosecution.