MAGISTRATE AS SAILOR

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1921, Page 3

MAGISTRATE AS SAILOR

SYDNEY SHIPPING OFFICE u ENQUIRY. ’ SYDNEY, Jan. 18. For some weeks (says the “Sydney Daily Telegraph”), Mr A. Osmonde , Butler, P.M. of Tamworth, has been conducting a special inquiry into the ! conduct of the Sydney Shipping Office, f and, it is said, that considerable evidence of an extraordinary character has been taken. The inquiry was instituted by the Government, at the request of the Federated Seamen’s Union, which for many months, has complained that seamen visiting the shipping office m search of a new ship have not received the courtesy and attention considered to be due to them. It is said that the first visit of the magistrate to the Shipping Office was an eye-opener to him in many ways. According to the story as it is told in shipping circles, Mr Butler, whose manner fitted the part well, disguised himself as a broken-down sailor. He dressed himself in an old pair of pants and-a dirty shirt, without a coat. He slouched lip to the door of the Shipping Office and tried to pass a constable. “Hey, what do you want here?'” ■ gruffly asked the policeman, putting his : arm out. “1 want to see the Shipping Master ( about a ship.”- was the prompt reply, i"You can’t see him. Off .you get,” said the doorkeeper, sharply. The pseudo-sailorman looked keenly | at him, and still demanded to see the Shipping; Master. But the official was obdurate. “You can’t see him!” “But I will,” said the sailorman, and pushed past the policeman, i He found himself in a big room, known .as the common-room. Hi 1 looked round, but no one was interested in him or his wants. At the other side of a counter there stood an official whose glance went right past him. Eventually, however, the investigating seaman went up to the man, and .asked to see “the bosj^.” That request had little or no effect, lie was kept hanging about tor over an hour, being sent from one clerk to the other, and was not overburdened with courtesy, either. i No one had the slightest idea of his identity. He was only a common s iilor looking tor a ship. ! When he could stand it no longer, and when all attempts to get near the Shipping Master had failed, flic pseudo.'caman disclosed his identity. j “I’m Mr Butler, and 1 have a commission to inquire into the working of this office. I want to see the Shipping 1 .Master.” j The whole scene changed. Clerks and i other officials rushed to open doors, and ' he was ushered into the presence of the | Shipping Master with as much cere- j motiy as though he had been an admiral i of the fleet. j The inquiry is being conducted in j camera, and it will be several weeks before the report will be available.