SEAMEN WHO STOLE FROM SHIP'S HOLD

Chronicle (Levin), 28 August 1946, Page 5

SEAMEN WHO STOLE FROM SHIP'S HOLD

-Press Association

By Telegraph—

INVERCARGILL, August 27. Prompt action by Captain A. I. Robertson, of the steamer Kent, which is loading at Bluff, in ordering a search of the ship following an adniission by a member of the erew that he had fallen down a hold while attempting to enter it to steal cargo, resulted in eight nieinbers of the crew appearing in tlie Magistrate 's Court, "Bluff, today 011 charges of stealing and/or receiving stolen goods. Fines ranging from £5 to £10 were iinposed on seven men, ttie charges against the eiglith being dismissed. A search of the ship resulted in the discovery in the crew's quarters of 92 tins of toitgue. George Callow, Leslie Albert William Longvvorth, and Ian William Hunter, who pleaded guilty to receiving 14 tms

o.t tongue, were each lined £10. Peter Newman was fmed £6 on a similar charge. Michael Woods and Frederick Day were each fined £10 for stealing 14 tins of tongue. Basil Francis Thacker, who fell into the hold was fined on a charge that he attempted theft. Charges of theft and receiving agaiirat- -Eric Langridge was dismissed. ' 1 There is a lot of thieving going on all over the world today, particularly on the waterfronts and from ships," said Mr. R. C. Abernethy, S.M. " Y ou men have a responsibility as well as anyone else. If you were seamen traaiitg in New Zealand waters only, my duty would probably be to impose terms of impriSonment. We have got to cheek this sort of thing as faT sls we can. It is not the best way to carry on as decent British seamen."