DESERTERS FROM SHIPS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 103, 4 May 1938, Page 8

DESERTERS FROM SHIPS

A SERIOUS MAHER VIEWS OF AUCKLAND MAGISTRATE [ Per Pr»M AF.’oclaLtori. ] AUCKLAND, May 2. “The .number of men desertin''; from ships in New Zealand is a serious matter and one for legislation rather than the Courts if something is to be done to deter these men from landing,’’ said Mr C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., in the Police Court to-day. Frank Van de Burgh, aged 18 years, was charged with deserting from the steamer Loch Don at Auckland. “It is apparently open to the worst class of men to desert from their ship although 1 do not infer this in this case,” added the magistrate. “There is apparently no way of excluding them. Another magistrate commented on this very matter only last week. Work Not Easy to Obtain Sub-Inspector Fox stated that when accused was arrested he said he had deserted from his ship with the intention of obtaining work, which he believed would be easy. He had also heard that wages were good. On the contrary he found that work was not easy to obtain and this was one who was disappointed. “These men come here to settle, and they start their career with a term of imprisonment,” said the magistrate. “The only thing to do is to punish them by imprisonment. I am naturally loath to send this young man to jail.” Accused was remanded until Thursday to enable inquiries to be made with regard to placing him on another ship. Two Malayans were charged with absenting themselves without leave from the City of Canberra on March 28. Both were remanded for a week with instructions that they should be placed on a ship, subject to the approval of the Customs Department