Who is to Command ?

Southland Times, Issue 19003, 24 March 1903, Page 2

Who is to Command ?

Two lirciuen of the ITaupiri named Thomas Jones and Charles Mulligan were charged at the Wellington Court with having ajbsented themselves without leave within 24 hours from the time of tho sailing of the vessel from Picton. It was stated that as the two men were not at their posts at the advertised hour of sailing-, a .search was made and they were found in a state of intoxication. As they were unfit for work the steamer was delayed for four hours, and tho passengers and ninils for northern ports arrived in Wellington too late to catch the train. Until recently, counsel stated, it had been the practice of masters, under a clause in the articles, to deduct from the wages of seamen and firemen two days' pay for improper absence, but the Minister of Marine had, in his good judgment, thought fit to insist that the clause should be excised from ship's nrticles, and the deduction could now only be made by a magistrate, and this involved something well nigh impossible. Tho defendants, who admitted having been drunk on the night in question, deposed that, having dono their eight hours* work> they had received permission from the second engineer to go "on shore. The Magistrate reserved judgment until yesterday, when ho hold that the Court had power to forfeit wages or impose imprisonment. The decision is one of importance to tho seafaring community and shipping companies.