STOWAWAYS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1933, Page 6

STOWAWAYS

ABOARD MONTEREY SUVA, June 7. Among the other distinctions enjoyed at Suva is the fact that it is the first port of call . for stowoways from Auckland. It has become quite a common occurrence for passengers who have omitted to bev a ticket to be taken- off the Pacific liners when they call here, but not quite so common was the occurrence last week when a;man and his wife who wore travelling oh the Monowai without a ticket were interviewed by the police on arrival of the vessel. It was stated that in this case there was no attempt at concealment. The couple said that they were destitute and in an endeavour to leave New Zealand walked on to the boat and then gave themselves up after, the vessel had left port. The man is an American subject and bis wife is an Australian. Action was only taken in regard to the woman, who was taken from the vessel while the husband was taken on fcy the ship to Honolulu. The women subsequently appeared at the Magistrate’s Court- when she was remanded ;to appear on Friday next. Arrangements having been made for her accommodation she was not kept in custody, and it was stated that offers had been made to pay her fare back to New Zealand. An offer to provide her with work lia.s also been made, and it is posible that she may remain in Fiji with a view to rejoining her husband later.

When the Monterey arrived on Tuesday last two stowaways were discovered. Reginald Wright, aln Australian, who was discovered a day before the'boat reached Suva, stated that he had stowed away at Auckland. The other man, Fritz Kreuzer s tated that he had been in New Zealand for two and a-half years and had stowed a way because he had heard that Fiji was a good place to get work. Both were ordered to he detained pending the arrival of the first Matson boat when they will be returned to New Zealand.