GERMANS AMONGST BRITISH CREW

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2265, 26 September 1914, Page 8

GERMANS AMONGST BRITISH CREW

THE TROUBLE AT AUCKLAND. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, September 25. Some difficulty lias arisen on board tho steamer Pakeha, which arrived at Auckland several days ago from London, on account of the presence amongst the crew of an Austrian and six Germans. The British firemen and greasers on tlio boat yesterday afternoon informed the captain that they would not work while foreigners belonging to nations with which Britain was atnvar remained on tlio ship. The captain endeavoured 1 to persuade the men to turn to, hut they maintained their position, and the ca]itaiii then took their names and had warrants issued for their arrest for refusing to obey his lawful commands. This afternoon, when the arrested firemen were brought before Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., Mr. Bagnall, for the captain, said that arrangements had been made to discharge tho Germans. As a matter of fact, the captain' had entered into arrangements to tnat.end before tho troublo arose, and he told the men so yesterday, but they refused to accept his assurance. His difficulty was that it entailed an extra cost of £250. for which lie would be personally liable if he had not got tho company's sanction. His Worship said that in tho present state of things ho was sure no Court would convict tho men, though their act had been rather impulsive, and he suggested that tho i charges be withdrawn. Tho captain said he would withdraw the charges if the men gave an undertaking to go back to the ship and resume work peaceably. The men with one voice said they would, so long as there wero 110 Germans ill tho crew. So the charges were withdrawn.