TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1921, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

.j, .aLEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]

COMMANDS DISOBEYED. AUCKLAND, May 4

An incident of the coastwise trade when the crew of the Ma-ko Last month refused to go to sea if the ship carried deck cargo, was ventilated before Mr E. Poynton, S.M., to-day, when the deck crew of seven men were charged that, on April 15th, they refused to obey the lawful command of the master. Mr Moody, for the captain, who prosecuted, stated that on April_ 14th, when a deck cargo of between two and three tons of sulphuric acid w-as being stowed on the ship’s deck under propor supervision, one of the men notified that the crew, under instructions from their union, would not proceed on the voyage to Napier with the deck caigo aboard. The crew did not, respond to orders to stand by to cast off from the wharf. Again, next day, the same thing happened. When the deck cargo was put back on the wharf the crew carried out their work and the vessel proceeded on her trip, hut were informed that they would he prosecuted for their disobedience. The ship had been surveyed by the Marine Department in August last. Mr Poynton said that one aspect in the case in the men’s favour was the nature of the cargo, sulphuric acid, in connexion with the shipping of whicli iliere had recently been a sad accident in Auckland. The men may have boon apprehensive, and had some right to a say about the deck cargo where they had reason to distrust the ship’s stability ; still there was another quite proper way of doing it without disobeying lawful commands. Their action had apparently not been wanton and without reason, and they would .he fined 10s and 28s costs each. state FIRE INSURANCE. FIGURES FOR r BHE YEAR WELLINGTON, May 4. The State Fire Insurance Department shows a gross surplus on last years’ operations of £75,285, allocated thus: -‘-Unearned Reserve, £9509; Investment. Fluctuation Reserve £3000; Income Tax, £15,567 ; net profit £47,210. The total sum assured shows an increase of £6,500,000. The loss ratio last year was the lowest experienced, being 17.10 per cent of the premium in come or 6 per (*ent below- the pi e\ ions neaord. Working expenses' increased 22.55 per cent, owing to the cost of living bonus, to the staff.

The general manager of the Department, commenting on the low loss ratio, states that the 1920 figures cannot l>e taken as evidence or otherwise of adequacy of rates, as the pre-war loss ranged up to about 55 per cent of the premium income, and there was nothing to show that under normal circumstances it would not return to something near that ratio.

A PITIFUL CASE. WELLINGTON, May 6 Thomas Herbert Cook, aged 54, was arrested last night in a pitiful condition on an “idle and disordeily charge. He was found dead in a police cell this morning. REPLY TO SIR J. ALLEN. WELLINGTON, May 6. Referring to the Allen cable, Mr T. M. Wilford, says he does not believe that Sir James Allen stated that there was no difference between the Liberal aiid the Labour Parties. Mr Wilford says Sir Jas. Allen knows that “Liberal” stands for “Labour,” but not for the Holland party. “Liberals,” he says, stands for King and ’Empire,) and; abhors Sovietism, Communism, and tne “Red t log . Mr Wilford adds that Sir J. Allen cannot surely contend that loyalty and love of country which are the alpha and omega of Liberalism is mentioned b;v the Holland .Party approvingly. Sir Jas Allen knows the Holland Party plank is the socialisation of the means, of production • aaid l exchange, which no Liberal stands for. “If Sir J. Allen made the remark attributed to him,” Mr Wilford concluded, “he is stabbing the hack of the Liberal Party. MAI’OURIKA’S FIREMEN. CHARGED WITH DISOBEDIENCE. WELLINGTON, May 6. As a sequel to the Mapourika holdup recently, six of the vessel’s firemen were (charged at the Magistrate s Court with refusing to obey orders. One of the defendants said that they were told the Union Company was sending shoremen on hoard to shift coal nearer to where 1t was wanted. The defendants also considered t there was insufficient coal in the bunkers for the round trip. The chief engineer said there were 42 tons in the bunkers and that this was ample for the trip. The proceedings taken were at E. Clay, J. M. Giffney, J. laiwe, J. Ale Andrew, T. Richards, and H. Sender. The evidence showed that tin Mapourika used to carry three firemen and two trimmers, hut as a resuit of representations made by the Union, the ship since 1913 carried si> competent firemen and no trimmers This meant that the firemen did theii own trimming. On the day in U ies tiou one fireman told the elliief pngineei that Air Young (Secretary of the S**u mens’ Union) had arranged frith th Unwin Company to have men sen down to trim the coal, but these me did not appear. It was contended by the men thn not enough coal was in the hunker! to take the vessel to sea i Giffney gave evidence that the me were never asked to shift the bunkew They would have done so if asked. The third engineer said the men a< i mitted that there was enough coal f< - the trip, but it was too far back. Air P. J. O’Regan (counsel for d fondants) said that the whole thii was a misunderstanding. Each d fendant was fined 40s. BURGLARS AT HA4VERA. HAWERA, May 0, t Several house# In Hawera wore e i tered by burglars yesterday, and large sum-of money stolen.