SEAMAN'S DETERMINATION TO GET BACK HOME

Chronicle (Levin), 2 August 1947, Page 3

SEAMAN'S DETERMINATION TO GET BACK HOME

AUCKLAND, August 1. The storv of a seaman's determined elTorts to return to his family in New Zealaiul after beiug stranded in Eng- • land, was told in the Magistrate's jOourt when Frederic.k Ilarold Patterson, aged M9, appeared on a charge ot Ltowiug awav on the ^ aitemata at ISaii Francisco on July T. He admitted the charge. Mr. J. IL Luxford, S.M., Iwas on the Bench. i An accouut of his etlorts to return jhome, which was submitted by accused. 'was read out by the Magistrate. After {serving in the Roval New Zealand iNavy for a short time, Patterson said he was discharged in 1943 with injuries I which he suffered through a inine exiploding while on active service in the ; South Pacijic. With the object of ' settling down in England and securing Ipositions on Britsih sliips, Patterson Uvent to England in 1946 intending to jbring his wife aiul son from Auckland 1 when he obtained a job. He couhl uot 1 join the seamen's pool which is operal j od by British shipowners and found ■that he could uot sign on British ships. He decided to return to New Zealand i a nd in October, 1946, he signed on a (Ireek ship bound for Cyprus, as the jfirst step in his journey home. This | ship had to go to Algeria as it sprang j i leak and subsecpiently Patterson joined a French shij) which foundercd. Ile returned to England and made several unsuccessful elTorts to get back to New Zealand. Eveutually he got to