REFUSAL TO DO WORK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19732, 10 September 1938, Page 7

REFUSAL TO DO WORK

SHIP’S QUARTERMASTER ' GAOL TERM IMPOSED ■ (Per Press Association.) •AUCKLAND, this day. Because he refused to work on his ship, the City of Pittsburg, after being fined £lO on Thursday for assaulting the chief steward by throwing a plate Of stew over him, John Alfred Rice, a quartermaster, aged 38, was again brought before the Police Court yesterday. Sergeant Tocker said that the shipping company had paid the fine and the accused would be required to work it off. However, he refused to work, tnd the'company had no alternative ut to take measures to right the matter.

The accused said that he wanted to leave the ship. There had been trouble right through the present voyage and he was afraid there might be more if he stayed. He realised that he might be sent to gaol, but this, he added, would allow him to get clear of the ship. Opinion of Captain

Captain Butler, master of the ship, said he would be glad to keep the accused if he would work, but he was too stubborn to do anything, and it Was not now desirable that he should return. The only trouble on the ship yeas caused by the accused himself. ;g "At sea we have our own method of dealing with men whb refuse to work,” added Captain Butler. “He must work or starve. It would be impossible to follow this practice While the ship is trading around the coast.”

. The magistrate, Mr. W. R. McKean, said it seemed a pity that the accused Could not have made up his quarrel With the chief steward. He would be betted off working in his ship than in brison, but he seemed tb have made his own choice.

The accused was sentenced to 21 ‘flays’ , imprisonment, the magistrate adding that arrangements would be made to send him to England in a later ship as offered by the company.