A SKIPPER'S TROUBLES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 140, 8 March 1919, Page 8

A SKIPPER'S TROUBLES

DIFFICULTIES WITH HIS CREW "ONE SOBER MAN LEFT" The troubles of an American captain with his crew were aired in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, when Beven sailors from the vessel Tonowanda were charged with haying absented themselves from the ship without leave on Ihursday.' The names of the defendants were •Bunion Garido, Henry Steffenson, Peter Robinson, Erik Hornquist, Frank Car roll. Herman Ahlstrom, and Christian "These "men are the remainder of the crew of tho Tonowanda." said Mr. A. IV. Blair, who appeared for the agents, ot the ship. "There is a crew of about fifteen, and half of them are now under arrest in connection with 6ome pilfering charges. The rest'of the men have given the captain such absolute unonding trouble that he is virtua ly left with only one sober member of the crew who does attend to his duty. They have set about to make themselves objectionable, and to make tho working of the snij> as impossible as they possibly can. _ Mr. Blair added that on Thursday morning a deputation waited upon the captain, and asked leave to go ashore to see the united States Consul. He replied that two or three of them might go, but the defendants all left in a body, and were away all the morning. It appeared that three of them actually visited the Consul, staying in his office for about seven or eight minutes. Apparently the party had decided to enhy themselves, tor they had. consumed some refreshments which the Consul could not have supplied. (Laughter.) , . „ A Request for Pay. Captain G. W. Heath stated that on Thursday morning lie did not have a single seaman on board, "he men had come to him asking for pay, but lie told tlieni that he could not advance them I an 1 * more, as they had not been making the best use of that which they had received previously. The men then said they wanted to see the Consul, and ,they left the vessel about 9 or half-past 9. He presumed that some of the members of the crew had been bringing liquor on board the ship in contravention .of the articles, for on Wetlensdny morning ho noticed fifteen case 3 of empty bottles, which someone must have brought on board. ,' . , , 'Hormiuist, Ahlstrom, and Quist declared that they were the only men who went ashore to see the Consul. They denied that they had stayed away from tho ship for a longer period than was necessary. The remaining four men said they remained in tho foc'sle to await the result of the conference between the othor nwn and the Consul. Theyjsaid they were not- orders! to "turn to." Evidence Hvas given by Arthur K Wliyte, American Consul, that three of tho man camo to seß him, and stayod seven, or eight minutes. la regard to Garido, Steffenson, Robinroo. and Carroll, who stayed ou board,tin charge was reduced to one of dis obedience of orders. Carroll said tho men were not told to work in the afternoon, and they stayed in the foc'sle. "It is strange that you. should remain there on such a nice day," said His W«rship. "Wo didn't go up on deck because we don't go looking for work," replied Carroll, amidst laughter. His Worship: Did the bo'sun say anything to you ? , Canroll: Yes. His Worship: What did he say? Carroll: "I want a shilling. (Loud laughter.) The witness added that the bo'sun said he wanted Ilia money for beer. He also alleged that the secoiid mate had requested money. His Worship: What did the second mate say?

Carroll: He did not exactly ask for it; he said ho would like some. (Laughter.) "It is an extraordinary stato of affairs if it is correct," remarked Mr. Frazer. "What exactly did tho bo'sun say?" Carroll: He just came into tho foc'sle and said he would like some money for beer, that is all. The, bo'sun did not get the shilling because wo were "broke" ouirselves. Then the second mate came along and wanted a shilling. Ho did not say anything about turning us to. The next-witness was Peter Robinson, who said he was 18 years of age. Mr. Blair:. Some of the men get a bit merry, don't they? Witness: Yes, and I don't blame them after being 92 days at sea. Mr. Blair: Isn't that the reason why the captain won't give you men money? "Ah, that is not his way of doing things," replied Robinson. Garido, Steft'enson, Eobinson, and Carroll all maintained that they were notordered to "turn to" in the afternoon. The Sherman Law.

His Worship said that although it looked as if the four men went into the foc'sle to avoid work, yet there was no evidence that they had been ordered to "turn to," consequently the charge as amended against them could not be sustained, and would be dismissed. As'far as the other men were concerned, they seemed to havo wasted about an hour of the ship's time.. There was a difficulty in (regard to penalty, however. Under tho American law—the Sherman Law— the jnght to imprison American sailors' for breaches of the shipping regulations had been taken away, and probably the United States Government had requested the New Zealand Government to modify our own regulations in regard to the treatment of American seamen. It was a question which required to be looked into as it was doubtful whether Section HI of the Shipping and Seamen Act,_ relating to the, imprisonment of foreign deserters, could be enforced in so far ns it related to American sailors. Mr. Blair said that as the trouble had been ventilated and tho captain did not desire to press the matter in any way, he would like tho remaining informations to be withdrawn. Captain Heath was quite proud of his crew, who ordinarily were very good, but what he did wish to havo stopped was the practice of liquor going on board the ship. ■ Tho infdrmations were accordingly withdrawn. - - '