STOWAWAYS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1931, Page 2

STOWAWAYS

TWO YOUNG MEN. SENT BACK FROM PANAMA. AUCKLAND. May 6. Two young stowaways are on hoard the Canadian National steamer Canadian Commander, which has arrived at Auckland from Halifax. The men stowed away in Australia, and they will he lauded at Brisbane. When the Canadian Britisher was completing her cargo at Brisbane in February ten rnen slipped on board and hid themselves in various parts of the ship, All ten succeeded in keeping themselves out of view until tho steamer' left the wharf, hut soon afterwards seven of them were found and put ashore. The other three remained undetected until the ship was well clear of the port, when they voluntarily gave themselves up. Tt was too late then for the men to he landed, and they were nut to work for the voyage across the Pacific. At. Panama the three stowaways were handed over to the canal ant) orities. and detained pending the arrival of a Canadian Government steamer hound for Australia. One of the trio was lucky enough to get a job on n British ship, which was short of a, hand, hut the other two were held until the arrival of the Canadian Commander. One of tlie stowaways is an Australian and the other an English lad. When they got on board the Canadian Britisher in Brisbane they hid near tlie steering gear, and saw the other seven stowaways being put ashore. Tt was their hope, they said, that they would he allowed to work their passage to America, where. they considered, there is a better chancr* of getting a job than in Australia. “You can’t buy a job in Australia,” said one of the men. Officers of the shin reported that the young men worked well throughout tlie voyage.