SEAMEN GAOLED

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1929, Page 2

SEAMEN GAOLED

ABOUT PAY AND CONDITIONS (By Telegraph—Press Association). 1 & CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 16. The nineteen members of the crew of the tramp steamer Lawbeath were each sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour by Mr Young, S.M., at Lyttelton Magistrate’s Court to-day, as the sequel to a dispute between the crew and master, which has resulted in the ship being held up since Friday last. The defendants were C l . Scott (boatswain), W. Cowan, D. Wilson, C. Martin, J. Dunn, A. Jarvis, A. Fonnola, A. White and. C. Constable (seamen); Lai Han (donkeyman), Fateh Mohammed, Mungo- Allia, Karim Din, Kaloo Tajin Bey, Kuski Patoo Mohammed, Ali Bhadir ,Dun Gulab and Skur Mohammed. Each was charged that, on O' to: er 9th. he was guilty of combining with others of the crew of the Lawbeath to impede the progress of the voyage. It was stated that the men had appeared before the captain on October 9th. and said that they would not take the ship to sea unless they were put on New r Zealand articles, at New Zealand rates of pay. 'J ne captain later agreed to this. Various other demands were made, such as that the men should be supplied with the New Zealand scale of rations, and that straw mattres es should be supplied to them. These demands were also agreed to. The men evidently knew, that their action was illegal, as they asked the master for a letter indemnifying them against prosecution when they returned to London. This the Captain refused, as other authorities had the right to prosecute.

The dispute thus remained unsettled. The Magistrate, after informing the defendants that, they were not within

their legal rights,in demanding New Zealand pay and conditions, asked the men if they were prepared to go back and take the ship, to sea.

The reply by the men was that tney would not go to sea. but would go to gaol.