SEAMEN DESERT SHIP
BAD CONDITIONS ALLEGED (P.A.) Christchurch, March 15. “If you were to visit the ship and see the conditions under which the men have to live you would agree that they had no alternative but to desert,” said Mr. T. Marton, secretary of the Seamen’s Union, addressing the magistrate, Mr. E. C. Levvey, when three men, Colin Gregory Jones Norman, aged 19, David Edgar Edwards, aged 22, and James McDonald, aged 24, pleaded guilty to desertion. Mr. Marton added that one of the men was leaving behind £3O in wages, another £6O, and a third £45. The men did not leave such sums owing to them unless there was something radically wrong. “Unfortunately the Seamen’s Union, does not cover these vessels; otherwise we would see that the men were treated as human beings, and not as animals,” he said. * The magistrate said that, while he might be most sympathetic what could he do? He was entirely limited in his powers. The men were sentenced to a month’s imprisonment/ and an order made that they be placed on board ship.
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Bibliographic details
Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 62, 16 March 1943, Page 3
Word Count
181SEAMEN DESERT SHIP Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 62, 16 March 1943, Page 3
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