TROUBLE ON THE TROOPSHIPS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2243, 1 September 1914, Page 7

TROUBLE ON THE TROOPSHIPS

ORARI AND LIMERICK MEN IN COURT DEMAND FOR COLONIAL PAY iTRADERS OR TRANSPORTS Loga-I argument in coiuiection with the cases_ against the 22 firemen from tho Orari and Limerick for allegedly refusing duty on Friday last was continued for over two-hours'in the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon. Mr. D. G. A. Cooper,- S.M., was on tho bench. Mr. J. F. W. Dickson appeared for the accused seamen, Mr. M. Myers for the owners of the Orari, and Mr. A. W. Blair for the owners of the Limerick, i Mr. W. T. Young (secretary of the Seamen's Union) was present during the hearing of the case with Mr. Dickson. Formal evidence was first taken. Officors "Know Nothing." William Bence, chief engineer of the Orari, said that on Friday the men worked till midday, and at 2 o'clock they refusel duty. Later the ringleader said that they were not going to return to work till they got £10 a month.

To Mr. Dickson: Till to-day (Monday) . they . had no troopers on board the boat. Witness had not seen troopship No. 6 written up on tho Orari, but ho had been told it was there. Witness knew nothing about the ship. Mr. Dickson: Do you know you are an officer on board the ship Witness: Yes. Mr. Dickson: I am glad you know something. Do you know why the vessel was painted grey? Witness:. No. Mr. Dickson: I want you to use a bit of common-sense. Witness: I am using conimon-sence. I wish you would. _ I was told by the captain that the ship was painted grey as it was to be used as a troopship. Murdooh M'Farlane. master of the Limerick, said that the men charged bad interviewed him at midday on Friday to know under what terms thoy were to sail. Later they had refused duty. Mr. Dickson: Are you leaving New Zealand as a troopship? Witness: Ah, well, that's a "corkor." I don't know. Case for the Men. In opening his case, Mr. Dickson said that the men had continually interviewed the authorities to get new articles, and had exhausted'every means in this respect. They had interviewed Captain Smith, who considered that the question should bo 'threshed out in Court. The men, said Mr. Dickson, wanted the same rights as the men on the_ Tahiti and tho Maimganui. Mr. Blair's clients, continued Mr. Dickson, had adopted the proper attitude, and although 31 men on the Limerick had re-: fused duty, only three representative men had been brought before the Court, so .that tho case might be fought out. On the other hand, all the men of tho Orari had been subjected to tho indignity of . being marched through tho [streets.-. "Ypur;Worship is to decide," proceeded the.speaker,'-"as to whether these'ships are still trading ships. If the ships are not, then it is quite clear that the contract between tho partios is null and void." It was a matter of common knowledge that the ships were troopships.. They, were named, painted, and fitted up as such." This proved that these ships were not now trading 6hips. Mr. Dickson quoted the ships' articles to show that when a deviation was made in a ship's voyage, as in the case under notice, the seamen on such .a ship should not be deemed deserted if they left it. ■ • Local Influence at Work. Mr. Myers said that neither on facts nor on law was Mr. Dickson or his clients entitled to succeed. "As far as tne facts are concerned, we are in time of stress," said Mr. Myers, "and any obstacle placed in the way of British shipping at the.'present time may be a very serious matter to the interests of tho nation. I dispute the point that the men have taken a prope" course. I say that the men have been misled by some influence which may be local, and have mutinied. The men should havo brought the matter before the Court in a simple way, It was not necessary for about fifty men to refuse duty. It would have been quite sufficient for one to have refused duty. Instead of that, they take this' concerted action, and the result necessarily must be to delay the working of the ships." "When we seo Mr. Young sitting next to Mr. Dickson, acting as junior counsol," continued Mr. Myers, "wo can see where this looal influence has emanated. What I regret is that this local influence cannot lie punished. These men have been incited to ask for an increase in pay just because the Maimganui and Tahiti men have it."

At this stage Mr. Dickson rose and strongly objected to Mr. Myers's suggestion. "I submit that Mr. Myers should not make such a statement," said Mr. Dickson, "and I can assure him that of my own knowledge the men were not influenced by any outside party." There was a loud "Hoar, hear," from the large and motley crowd gathered in the rear of the court. "Silence!" roared tho court orderly. The Magistrate remarked that if the crowd failed to preserve order they would be put out of court. Passengers, Not Troops. Mr. Myers went on to say that the" fact that the ships wero taking cargo proved that it was still on a trading voyage. They were taking troops, too, but these could be called passengers. At this the watchers in the rear of the court hurst into laughter, but tho cry of "Silence!" bringing with it the remembrance of the Magistrate's threat, caused tho outburst to die as suddenly as it had arisen.

Mr. Myers continued that the Admiralty had declared trade routes clear. Besides, a ship which was taking cargo and troops, in addition, was in a. position of loss danger than ships talcing cargo only, as it was only reasonable to believe such ship would be protected. "Even if there is risk of capture," said Mr. Myers, "are the ships' articles to be thrown overboard? The English, nation is not a neutral one in this case, but a belligerent one, and whether a ship is taking troops or not, it is in the same position." During the course of his address, Mr. A. \V. Blair said that it was not because of the risk that the men wore asking for an additional rate, hut just because the mon of the Tahiti and Maunganui were getting higher pay. "They have tho sordid hopo," said Mr. Blair, "that by taking advantage of their country's needs they can aßk for a higher rate of wage." The Magistrate said ho would reserve his decision,' and remarked that the signing of tho Mannganui's articles had' nothing to do with the case. Waltor Burrows was charged at the conclusion of the legal argument with dosnrtion from the Orari. Ho was ordered to forfeit a day's pay for his offenco.

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