SEAMEN IN DISTRESS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1852, 11 September 1913, Page 7

SEAMEN IN DISTRESS.

THE DEVON'S CREW. Some Government assistance for the me.n who came ashoro from tho wrecked steamer Devon was suggested in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. T. M. Wilford, who addressed a question on tho subject to the Minister, for Marine. Mr. Wilford 1 said that ho had been aslted by somo members of tho Devon's crow to bring tlieir plight under the notice of tho Government. Thero were about 30 of theso men, firemen, stewards, and others. Since they wero landed from the Devon their pay had ceased. A number of them were married men, and half their wages had bse.n transmitted Home to their wives. All that they had was tho other half of their wages earned on tho voyage out. Some of them had 305., and 1 others £2. His Excellency the Governor had subscribed to tho Devon relief fund, and somo assistance might ho given by tho'Government, 'flic Hon. F. M. B. Fisher said that he had just heardi of the matter that morning from Mr. G. G. Farlaml' (secretary of tho Watersiders' Iln-ion), who had reported that somo of the officers and men of the Devon wero in a distressed condition. Ho had immediately dispatched nil urgent letter to Mr. Fnrland asking for details of the circiimstancos in which tilie crew of tho Devon wero placed.. A.s soon as he received this information lie hoped to bring the matter before Cabinet. There was a vote on. the Estimates for tho benefit of distressed seamen in London, and ho thought that something should bo done for distressed seamen in New Zealand.