“NO SPIK.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20075, 11 October 1920, Page 8

“NO SPIK.”

A RUNAWAY SEAMAN. NATIVE OF NIPPON IN COURT. .", s £'k,” appeared to be tho extent of F. Hara’a knowledge of tho English language when ho was asked at tho Magistrate’s Court to-day how ho mended to a charge of landing in New oealand from a Japanese ship, the Jinju Marn, he being a prohibited, immigrant. Various efforts were made by the Court officials to nenuaint accused with the nature of Ins offence, but each and all were mot with a blank look of upintelligence. A Japanese dictionary was produced from somewhere, but even with this aid accused was unable to comprehend what ho was charged with and merely reiterated one or two of the words road to him by tho Court orderly, Mr W. V. Wratt, Collector of Customs, said that tho accused arrived in Lyttelton on September 5 on a coal slfip, tho Jinju Marti. He Had failed to pass the education test. When the vessel was ready to sail again, on October 7, the crew were mustered, and accused was found to be missing. The vessel was kept back for twenty-four hours, but there was no appearance of accused, and finally the vessel put to sea without him, the agents depositing £l5O to cover the amount of a possible fine and tho expenses of deporting the accused. Under section 18 of the Im migration Restriction Act, 1900, it was asked that accused bo detained till he could be shipped out of the Dominion. It was proposed to send him to Wellington at once under police escort and put him on tho first vessel leaving for Newcastle—probably this week—where he could rejoin his ship. The Magistrate (Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M.) asked if no interpreter wore available, and was informed that none was available, as far as was known, in Caristcimrch. Mr M’Curthy (to Mr Wratt): Then you’ll have to prove your case, as the accused doesn't understand English. Mr 'Wratt; That means 1 shall have to secure the attendance of an officer from Lyttelton. ’ When tlio case was called this atteintiou Mr Wratt said that he had been unable to get an interpreter anywhere. The case accordingly proceeded without one. Albert John Robertson, boarding inspector of Customs at Lyttelton, stated that he had made inquiries'’ from the captain of the Jinju Marti regarding the vessel’s crew, and had been informed that none of them could road or write. Before the vessel sailed witness mustered the crew to take a tally of them when one was found to be missing. The captain made inquiries and said it was Hara who was missing. The vessel delayed her sailing for twenty-four hours, but finally had to sail wits,.at the accused, the agents depositing £l5O with the Customs. At this stage .tho Court officials, armed with the Japanese dictionary, made further efforts to get into communication with the accused but without avail. The Magistrate ordered that accused should be i mioved from the Dominion, and kept in custody for a period not exceeding sis months, pending his deportation.