“FANATICAL UNIONISM.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2625, 28 August 1923, Page 3

“FANATICAL UNIONISM.”

MARAMA’S FIREMEN SENT TO GAOL. Auckland, August 25. Thirty-one members of the stokehold crew of the Marama "were each sentenced in the Police Court to one month’s imprisonment for combining on the high seas to disobey the lawful commands of the master. Wjhen the Marama was about to leave the wharf yesterday, a representative of the Union, Mr Flynn, discovered that one man engaged was not a member of the Union, and had no certificate of discharge as a fireman. On behalf of the men, he mounted the bridge and complained to the captain. In evidence, Captain Cliff said the ve'ssel was then in motion, and the lines cast oc. He ordered the man down. Flynn came up again later, when the ship was near the channel buoys, and the captain said he would deal -with the matter when he was further out. When three miles ’ out, the ship almost stopped for want of steam, and the stokehold crew were mustered. Each man individually refused duty, and the Marama then put back, the junior engineers stoking. The refusal being persisted in, all were arrested by the waterside police. Henry Flynn, the delegate, said he mounted the bridge when the gangway was still out, at 10.45 n.m. The vessel was not under way. When the captain heard the complaint, he said: “I’ve got nothing whatever to do with Unionism. If you don’t get off the bridge, I’ll gaol you.” Flynn replied : “Go your hardest, then.” Mr Holmden raised the defence that the ship was not on the high seas. The men had decided not to work when the vessel was at the wharf.

Mr Bagnall, for the prosecution, submitted that there had' been a combination agreed to at the wharf, but persisted in on the high sens. The Magistrate, Mr Poynton, said it was a serious matter that men for a triviality should hold up a big ship with 240 passengers. It was Unionism of a fanatical nature, and the men were cutting their own throats. They had nothing to gain by such action. All friends of Unionism would be much distressed. The matter could have been dealt with in Sydney on arrival. In passing sentence, he said: “I don’t want to give twelve months’ but you must be severely punished.” On the charge of individually disobeying commands, each was convicted and ordered to share the costs of the prosecution.

FIREMEN REPLACED, AND VESSEL SAILS. Auckland, August 27. The response to a call for firemen to replace the stokehold crew of the Marama was sufficient to provide enough qualified men to replace the 31 now in gaol. The men signed on this afternoon on board the ship, the mails were taken ahoard at 2 p.m., and the Marama sailed for Sydney at 4.55 p.m. There are two saloon and one steerage passengers for the voyage.