MOSQUITO FLEET HOLD-UP.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1744, 23 October 1917, Page 3

MOSQUITO FLEET HOLD-UP.

APPEALS OF YOUNG AND HOWELL ABANDONED. The appeals to have been made to the Wellington Supreme Court on Saturday on behalf of William Thomas Young, secretary of the New Zealand Seamen’s Federation, and Frederick Charles Howell, assistant secretary, against their conviction for inciting a seditious strike, were abandoned when the cascAvas called on. The Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) was,on the bench. Young and Howell were represented by Messrs M. Myers and H. F. O’Leary, Mr P. S. K. Macassey appeared for the Crown. His Honour said that what counsel had done was 'just what would have been expected from him as an able and reputable counsel. In submitting to the evidence showing that an appeal could not possibly succeed, he had done what was fair to his clients and to the Court. He had acted as an upright barrister should act. All His Honour could do was to dismiss the appeal. As the appeal had not been proceeded with, he thought that only nominal costs should be given. He would allow simply the costs of all witnesses but police witnesses. “My duties end here,” concluded the Chief Justice, “but I think I might be allowed to say this—that it is a very sad thing that sailors, of all men, should be in this position. I was brought up in my early days among seamen, and for generations there have always been seamen in our family. . . . If these men would accept friendly advice, I would suggest that they get the matter settled by leaving it to the Arbitration Court, which is always anxious to what is fair to them. That is all I shall say.”