CENSORSHIP BREACH

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 190, 10 May 1944, Page 4

CENSORSHIP BREACH

Ship’s Officer Jailed (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 9. An officer on an overseas ship was today sentenced to a week’s imprisonment by Mr. J. Morling, S.M., for breach of the censorship regulations by writing a letter containing information about the movements of a British vessel. The defendant, James Ross, aged 21, pleaded guilty. It was stated that Ross was sixth engineer on the ship. He wrote a letter in Jersey City. America, giving his name, rank and the date of,, his ship's arrival and projected departure. The censor intercepted the letter and forwarded it to the police. The defendant’s explanation to th'e police was that his ship left America before he could pick up his laundry, and his purpose in writing was to get his brother to pick it up for him and leave it as the shipping office. There was nothing to suggest that Ross was other than a loyal subject, or that there was anything sinister in what he did. hut there were notices posted on his ship warning against giving out information respecting the ship’s movements. Ross told the magistrate that it was difficult to obtain the clothing he required here. The magistrate said the consequences of giving out such information were so serious that the interests of the safety of the country and its ships made it necessary to impose a -term of imprisonment. He ordered that Ross should be placed on board his ship if it sailed before the expiration of the week’s term.