PEACEFUL PERSUASION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1919, 29 November 1913, Page 6

PEACEFUL PERSUASION.

BY. LINER'S CAPTAIN. W lion tlio Stipendiary Magistrate air. W. G. J.'iddoll) hart dealt with the Corinthio's firemen yesterday, and iho men had slni'fkd out of Court, >t looked as though a new crow of seamen and firemen would have to bo got together to take tlio steamer to Lyttolton. One of the men had asked leave of tho Magistrate (after his decision had been given) to speak, and had been :e----fused. Whilst tho men were still within tho Court buildings, Captain Hart interviewed them, and asked what the man who wished to speak in Court had to say. The man said tlmt ho wanted to know if tliey would he allowed to go free after serving sentence in gaol, and Captain Hart explained that at the end of the month they would be again placed on the ship, and, if they refused duty, then further Court proceedings Would be taken. This rather changed the attiliKle of the men. Captain Hart then asked them if they were 'comfortable in the shin? Did they get plenty to eat? Was the work too hard!' Teal! of these ouestinns the men answered "No, Sir!" Then Captain Hart said that the letter sent on board the ship by Mr. G. Farland (secretary of the Waterside Workers' Union) ha.'! promised to do lots of fine things' for tho men if they stuck the vessel up—it was going to keep tliem in comforts bio quarters ashore, and, besides that, send money to their dependents. Did they see the array of lawyers and law Imorrs in Court? ('Ensemble: "Yes."). Wo'l, those were for tin- defence of the Lahour agitators. How ne-iuy men wore in Court to look after tliem (toe iiromoii/? Not one—not a man fo raise his voico on their behalf. _ 'I hat was the wav tl;1 they v.'fvo beio!* treated, after leaving a comfortable ship. Captain Hart then asked th* men not to b« led astray, but to_ get back to ihn ship, and tho men, without ex- ■; caption, promised to return to dutv- if (heir sentences were mniitted. Til's was apnlied for successfully ai the afternoon sitting of tlie Court-, th« men rolurned on board, and Ike ship sailed for Lvttelton daring the afternoon. .