SEAMEN ARE FINED FOR USING BAD LANGUAGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19108, 28 June 1930, Page 9

SEAMEN ARE FINED FOR USING BAD LANGUAGE.

In the Magistrate’s Court at Lyttelton to-day, before Mr W. C. Cleary, J.P., and Mr F_ G. Norton, J.P., James Bamborough and Harry Hamman, members of the crew of the Rangitane, •were charged with using obscene language in London Street, Lyttelton. Sergeant Dunlop stated that between 6 and 7 last evening complaints were received at the Police Station that two seamen were using extremely bad language. One had the other man pinned up against a wall, threatening him with a knife. Constable Baynes went out and arrested both men. The men had been drinking but were not drunk. Both the accused pleaded guilty. In reply to the Bench Bamborough stated that the knife incident was only skylarking and that the language complained of was only used among themselves and not in the presence of anyone. The Bench stated that they took a very serious view of men coming ashore off ships and using such language. If they came ashore they were expected to behave properly. A fine of £5, in default one month’s imprisonment, was inflicted on each of the accused. Bamborough: “ Can I appeal against the fine? ” The Bench: “You have both pleaded guilty and elected to be dealt with by this Court, therefore the penalty must stand.”