WAIMARINO’S CREW FINED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2707, 13 March 1924, Page 3

WAIMARINO’S CREW FINED.

FOR REFUSING TO GO TO SEA. Christchurch, Yesterday. As a sequel to the refusal of sailors and firemen of the Waimarino to take the vessel to sea on Saturday night and again yesterday after the vessel had been inspected by Lloyd’s surveyor and the Government senior ship’s surveyor, who certified that the steamer was seaworthy, twenty-five members of her crew (fifteen firemen and ten sailors) appeared before the Lyttelton Magistrate’s Court to-day, „• charged that they, being seamen \ lawfully engaged on tbe s.s. Waimarino, did fail without reasonable cause, to proceed to sea in the ship. Counsel for the Union Company said the company was not seeking any vindictive penalty. The facts were that on Saturday, the company had received urgent instructions to despatch the vessel for Newcastle, where she was urgently needed to keep the mines open. The New Zealand Government, too, was very anxious that the coal shipments shoiild kept up as coal was needed. Captain Watson, master of the Waimarino, said the crew wanted the deep tanks filled before they proceeded to sea, as they considered the vessel would be unseaworthy. Witness said he considered the vessel w r ould be safe. He was taking no risks. After hearing expert evidence, the Bench stated that defendants had failed to prove any reasonable cause for refusing to take the vessel to sea, and each man would be fined one day’s pay, and they were ordered to pay Court costs, amounting to £l4. Christchurch, Last Night. The members of the crew of the Waimarino were to-day sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment for refusing to take the vessel to sea, alleging that she was unseaworthy. The Magistrate remarked that if (lie men changed their minds and decided to take the ship out, the master could have them placed on board. Later in the day, the Union Com ; pany decided to fifl the deep tank with water, which the crew wanted done all along. At 8.30 the men were escorted aboard by a small party of police, provided with a hot meal ■and turned to. The vessel sailed an hour later.