STRIKE OF SAILORS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6888, 25 June 1890, Page 2

STRIKE OF SAILORS.

At the Lyfctelton B.LL Court this morn- ' ing, before R. Beetham, Esq., 8.M., Thomas Harrington, Theodore Thornite, David Crosbie, Alexander Inglis, John Anderson, James Watt, James Preston, Jameß Tranter, William Campbell Thomuß O'Donnell, and Alfred Smith, seamen belonging to the British barque Broomhall were charged with wilfully disobeying the lawful commands of Captain Dundas on Sunday last, June 22. They pleaded "Not guilty." There was another information charging the men ■with combining to disobey the orders of the captain, to which they also pleaded "Not guilty." * Mr Nalder appeared for the ship, while Mr Salter defended. The following evidence was given : Captain Dundas, master of the Broom- 1 hall: All the men were on the articles. They all shipped at Sydney exceDt two. Arrived in Lyttelton at 7.30 p*.m. on Saturday. The pilot gave orders that he would be alongside at 9 a.m. on Monday to bring the yeseel in to the wharf. On Saturday night witnens gave the chief officer instructions to let the men have their breakfast at 7 a.m. on Monday. Oa t Sunday morning witness told the men j to get the hauling lines ready, and , also the mooring chains. The men ' replied that it was Sunday, and that the ■ work could be done on Monday morning. They again refused to do the work, and appeared to be acting together. In consequence of this, witness had to get ten men from ashore to get the ship ready to come in, and he gave the men in charge on Monday. To Mr Salter : The tug came off at about 9 a.m., and the men from ashore shortly before that. Eemembered being before the shipping master at Sydney. Did not say the men could be discharged in New Zealand if they wished. Kepi one of the offenders back when the men were arrested, because he did not understand English and did not know what he was doing. There were no complaints against the men on the way from Sydney, and when they came aft on Sunday they were orderly. It would take about an hour and a half to get the lines up, and then he would be ready for the tug. The work could not be done on Monday morning because it would be dark. Did not know whether or not the men offered to do the work at 5.30 a.m. on Monday. "Whether or not the men work on Sundays in port

depended upon the peculiarities of the captain. David Berry, chief officer of the ship : Gave the men orders on Sunday morning to get the mooring lines on deck. They I refused to do it, and again refused when ordered by the captain on two occasions. The reason they would not work was* because it was Sunday. It would havetaken about two hours to get the ropesup. The tug was to be off at 9 a.m. on-. | Monday. , ; To Mr Salter : When the order was first • • given to get the lineß up the men asked if I the ship was going to the wharf. Witness replied she was, because he understood so • from the captain. This was wrong. When • the men refused to work the captain gave orders to stop their dinner. At about 6.30 ■ a.m., not earlier, on Monday, the men offered to turn to. The men could then have done the necessary work before the - tug came. Did not accept the offer of the men. . This was the case for the prosecution. [ Mr Salter called William Campbell : Joined the ship at Antwerp. On Sunday la 6 t the chief officer came aft and ordered the men to turn to. | One of the men asked if the ship was ; going alongside the wharf that day, and the officer replied that she was. This wa» t " not true, and the men refused to go to I wor « on Sunday asi *»c w °rk could be done |on Monday morning. The work could be done in an hour and a half or two hours. When tho men refused to work, thecaptain gave orders to stop the men's food. Had no dinner, and for tea had a pannikin of tea and a biscuit, and no breakfast on Monday morning. Left the ship at 9 a.m. To Mr Nalder : Breakfast was served out to only four men on Monday. The men who turned to on Sunday only got breakfast. Thomas O'Donnell and James Preßton gave similar evidence. None of the seamen had anything to eat from breakfast on Sunday until they left tho ship at9a.m on Monday. Mr Salter said this was all the evidence he intended to call. His Worship then called upon the captain to explain why the men had been, kept without their food on Sunday. Captain Dundas: Only their dinners were stopped. His Worship: The men say they had notea on Sunday, and no breakfast on Monday. Captaiji Dundas : I say they did. Mr Salter said he would call another member of the crew who was in Court, but not charged with disobeying orders. Herman de Bow nan put in the box, and said tho men had no dinner- on Sunday, no tea, and no breakfast on Monday. His Worship: What have you to say to that Captain Duudas ? Captain Dundas. I gave orders to thecook to give tho men their tea and break- , fast. Ido not know of my own knowledgen the men had their meals. [Left Sitting.]