THE MEN ON THE MACQUARIES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 867, 13 July 1910, Page 8

THE MEN ON THE MACQUARIES.

DEPUTATION TO MR. MILLAR. THE HINEMOA TO CALL. A deputation waited upon the Minister for Marine (tho Hon. J. A. Millar) last evening to make certain representations regarding tho. possible plight of some workers on the Macquarie Islands.

Mr. Clark, M.P.; who introduced the deputation, urged-that tho Hinemoa should.bo diverted from Port Chalmers in order to take food supplies down to tho men, who, through tno failure of their employer's vessel to connect, might be in a bad way.

-Mr. T. E. Taylor, ALP.,\explained that tho, men were under contract to lUr. Hatch, of lnvercar'gill, in connection, with the killing and hoiling-down of'penguins' for the sake of. their oil. Mr. Hatch's: vessel had-failed' to: effect a landing on her last voyage and the' men might now ho iii distress. Tho deputation did not ask the Government to. bring the oil back for Mr. Hatch; they did not even want them to bring the men back or to assist Mr. Hatch in any way, but, in the interests of humanity tfhe Government should send the steamer down witn. some lood.

Mr. Millar: You must bear .in mind that this is an annually recurring affair. The men have never been got back insido of eight months. Mr. Taylor remarked that the Jesslu Nicbl could. not, he understood, get away till next week. She might be a fortnight getting there. > Mr. Millar: A fortnight! Sho might bo sis weeks, or she might never get there. ' . ' .

Mr, Taylor: ,And meantime tho men might be wanting food.. Mr. Millar: They cannot die, of starvation. They may have hardships I admit. ~-.. ,-..-•

Mr. Taylor: 'We do not: ask you to take,the men back.unless there is absolute nccessitv.

Mr. Laurcnson said that there was a strong feeling against .-thq whole-trade, and the Government should make representations about it to the Tasmanian bovernment The industry was of such a nature as.to make a man's blood boil. The helpless penguins wore driven down m mobs, and were supposed to bu knocked on tho head before they were put into'huge digestors.but one could easily imagine what.might happen. In the ,interests' of. preventing cruelty, to animals this unnecessary industry should be stopped.. It did not redound itq.'our civilisation at all. He intimated his intention of asking a question about it <in Parliament with a view to representations- being made to tho Tasmanian Government.

Mr. Young, secretary of the Seamen's Union, thought that the Hinemoa should be sent with food supplies. Mr. M'Laren, M.P.: What is the liability of tho. contractorr ' Mr. Millar: Absolutely none. The men are under contract. In the event of accident also they would have no claim here-as the Macquaries are under the jurisdiction of Tasmania. Mr. Taylor: We do, not ask that the men be taken olf'.unless in tho case of accident or sickness.

Mr. Millar: I don't mind doing that. The thing has been going on for some years. I .offered Mr. Hatch the Hinemoa for the actual cost of working; namely,. £700, but he. would not touch it and commenced negotiations . for a' cheaper steamer. In regard to his own vessel, he said that the delay was b'evff&b he could not get a second mate. 111 ascertain where the Hinemoa ..is, and if she'has done her southern trip, 111 let her run down and see about those fellows,. but Hatch ought to pay for the stores. Ho should put'the provisions aboard and pay for them. Mr. Taylor:: :How is that point to be managed? . " Mr Millar: I want 'the cash from Mr; Hatch, 11 can tell you.