THE NAVIGATION LAWS.

Colonist, Volume L, Issue 12152, 29 January 1908, Page 4

THE NAVIGATION LAWS.

Wellington, Jan. 28. Captain Kempson, master of the s.s. Athenic was charged at tbe Court to-day with transferring five firemen from the the Athenic to tbe i lonic without first discharging them and paying i,hem off in the presence of the Superintendent of Mercantile Marine, as provided by tbe New ■ Zealand law. It was contended for ■ tbe defence that. the men were in the service of the same company under the same agreement for the voyage to the Dominion and back, and under the British Board of Trade regulations the transfer was properly effected. The prosecution sug- ; gests that tbe men were transferred from one steamer to the other by , launch or taken to the shipping office iirst, so as to avoid the risk of them being intimidated by other firemen, who were asking £25 and £30 for their services on tbe voyage. Judgment was reserved.