STRANDED SEAMEN

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1930, Page 11

STRANDED SEAMEN

EFFORTS TO (LEAVE ENGLAND. •London, April 15. How two young Australians, unsuccessfully tried to stow away to Australia three times, and on each occasion were caught and' imprisoned, is told by Mr. • Carrugan, chief clerk at Australia House. x From the crew of. a German steamer 26 out of a total of 35 Australians and Germans deserted in Melbourne and Sydney. 'The Australians ehipped, thinking they would be able to return by the same ship, only to find on arrival that the German law requires ships to be manned by their own nations., “It is completely diifferent trying .to leave England without money from trying to leave Australia,” said, , Mr. Carnigan. “Twenty-Five per cent., of British seamen are unemployed and it is not feasible to expect to get a ship here.” Two young Australians, desperately stranded in London, stowed away three times unsuccessfully. At first they started for New Zealand on a passenger steamer leaving Southampton, where they were discovered before sailing a.nd promptly given a month in gaol. Immediately they came out they stowed away again and this time reached Dunkirk before being discovered. After two months in gaol there they stowed away a third time, reaching South Africa, where tire shipping company sent them back to England. This time they were sentenced to three months.

“They were nice young chaps;” said Mr, Carrugan. “I have not seen them since their last release and presume they successfully stowed awhy ’at the fourth try. “Paddy Burke, of Sydney-stranded from an Australian steamer —was the only man who ever thanked' me for anything I did. I helped him get a ship back and when he reached Australia he straightway sent, me a pound not© on behalf of other distressed w-ir-iners*”- - ' . I