DESERTING SEAMEN,

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14396, 31 December 1910, Page 3

DESERTING SEAMEN,

BEFORE A MAGISTRATE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Dee. 30, Following upon tlio prosecution of George M'Lcod for desertion from tho steamer Clan M'Laren yesterday, several arrests of seamen who had left their vessels without leave were made, and the alleged offenders appeared before Dr. M‘Arthur," S.M., at tlie Magistrate’s Court to-day. Patrick Regan, an articled seaman on the Otaki, denied having unlawfully absented 'himself from ship without leave. He said ho was feeling unwell, and. went to a chemist’s shop for medicine and was hack in half an hour. According to the chief officer,, however, Regan was. absent from 9 a.m. to 12.43 p.m. on’the day in question, and was drunk when lie returned.

Sub-Inspector Norwood asked that accused should be placed on board, The ship was sailing to-day, and"'there were so many of these men being left. The Magistrate told accused that were it not for. tiro fact that tho ship was sailing he (Regaul would receive ;a term of imprisonment. The inan was convicted and ordered to forfeit two days’ pay, to defray the court costs, and to be placed on board his shin. John Nicholson, an articled seaman on the Clan M'Laren, pleaded guilty to a charge of having unlawfully deserted from the ship. Sub-Inspector Norwood said ho had been informed by the agents for the vessel that .there are always a largo number of applicants at tho docks in Glasgow for a trip to New Zealand. This.’man was, given preference because he hold a certificate in the Royal Naval Reserves. He had signed on as usual for the round trip back to England. His Worship; 'That is another phase of the matter. Those who ate prepared to carry out their contract are stopped from doing so. The Sub-Insoectbr: He has simply made a convenience of the company to come out hero.

His Worship (to accused): Have you anything to say ? Accused: I am a member of the Seamen’s Union, andd was. promised that I could sign Off. His Worship What ? Yon know very well you were signing on for tho round voyage. Are you a fool, or do you think [ am a fool P : Accused; No, certainly not. It was stated that Nicholson had been virtually a passenger on the voyage out. Ho was" sentenced to one month’s imprisonment. A plea of , guilty was tendered by Joseph Anderson, charged with having unlawfully absented . himself from the. Dray ton Grange. The shin was sailing for 'Avonmouth during the morning, and in:view of this accused was convicted and ordered to forfeit two days’ pay, also to defray 7s tourt costs, and to ,ho placed on.board forthwith.,. Norman Morrison, another deserter from the Clan M’Laron. eighteen years of age, was sentenced to one .month’s imprisonment. .., 1 A PORT CHALMERS CASE. DUNEDIN, Dec. 30. William Dowdell, fireman on tho steamer Clan Chisholm, pleaded guijty it Port Chalmers to-day to a charge 'of being absent from the steamer. Sergeant Dougau told the court that the vessel left yesterday , evening for Timaru, but before she went away the accused and his mate, both partially intoxicated, were put on board several times by the police. No effort was made oy those on board .to prevent tho accused from leaving the ship after being put on board. Accused evidently had a grievance, which he was told to seek redress for by legal methods, but instead of doing so hd insisted on leaving the shin illegally, and eventually the agent of the ship (Mr. Wood) gave him in charge. The Bench (to accused); What have you to say? Accused; I have a lot to say. .1 have been told to : get out, of the ship on more than one occasion by the onginxts.” He had been practically chased out of tho ship. Ho had given no cause for that treatment. Tho'food, supplied on’tho vessel was not fit to bo oaten, nul tbe living apartment was not pro'icrly illuminated at night time. Derides, the shin was shorthanded., Ho nul another man had themselves ■‘fired” her shorthanded over since she had been in the colonies. 1

Tile presiding Justices, Messrs. Do Mans and Watson, sentenced the lionised to 14 days’ imprisonment, but he will he’put on board the vessel if she mils before! tho .terra expires.