THE CAPTAIN'S PEN.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1651, 18 January 1913, Page 4

THE CAPTAIN'S PEN.

BAD CEEWS: "Vj.G." DISCHARGES.

For some time past it has been a praw tioo by eoino'masters of vessels trading in and cut of, Wellington to grant "V-G." discharges to.seaman who havo signed oft the vessels'illrtiolos, although the seamen m question v have, not been • entitled to them.. In consequence, tho Superintendent of Mercantile' Marino at (Wellington has notified various shipping agents Isero that, if the masters continue to do this, they amy liable to n penalty. The notice reads as follows:— • -, . '■■' t .'■;■■'.

It bus been represented to.thlsDe: partmeiit that masters of vessels eomotimes ijivo good certificates of ■ discharge to seamen .when their conduct during tho currenoy of■their agreement does not warrant it, and it.'haa therefore been'decided that tho atten T , tion of .shipowners bo' drawn to tho provisions of Sections 58 and 57 of ' The Shipping and Seamen Act, 1908; .- especially to paragraph (a) of section I shall be glad if yon will be good enough to draw tho attention of your ■-, masters to this, and impress upon , them the necessity.for observing tho

Paragraph (a) of Section 57'. reads as follows:-E\1ery .person "is guilty of a crime who makes a false report of character undor tho A°t> knowing the isahio to be false. 1 . '■■■■': V : It, has long been known that'..BcaJnen-,; who havo qualified for very bad -:djs«!|' charges will! not take them, and therefore,: to save trouble, ■ some, masters havo been known to' givo these .men "V.G." sdischarges, It is also known that there have been cases in which seamen, in rcoeipttof a' bad discharge,' who.'./Tiavo- .mutilated); their -papers, and: havo endeavoured'■; to sign on a vessel on a previous discharge,; which" has'givenHhem' 1 Osgood-character,; Attention'ss iW draftn to 1 tho'fnot that, according to tho Act,' a seaman.whoimutilatcs his'discharge is liable to punish*' mont. ■'. r '"■' ■'~ *-■/:'• . .'•■'..' v : ''- : ..

It is interesting to note that-,thovguop-tion of issuing discharges to seamen' was referred to in the issue of The Dominion of Dcoemher 2J, when it was stated in. referenco to the troublo on the Mnpo'urilta that "possibly, if there was more stricness in issuing t discharges to these men and in re-engaging them, thoro would bo less troublo and a better class of men' would ' gradually come into tho service, At tho present time it is an; occupation which is fought shy of; owing to the largo number of.undesirables who find ornplqjj mcntat.it" ■'' ■■"'■'•.■'. . , '. - .v.V '