THE TAINUI'S STEWARDS

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 45, 28 January 1916, Page 6

THE TAINUI'S STEWARDS

UP BEFORE THE COURT. BOARD OF TRADE RATIONS. COOK BURNED THE DUFFi Per Pkebs a«<=™ution. Auckland, January 28. At the police court, nine stewards of the steamship Tainui were charged with having combined to disobey lawful commands. It appears that during the voyage from London defendants and another man waited on the captain and complained of the food served for their breakfast. The captain inspected the food and expressed himself satisfied with its quality, and ordered them to resume work. They refused, and later they were, put on the Board of Trade rations and had their meals with the crew. Kershaw, chief officer, cross-exam-ined, said he had heard that a petition signed by about two hundred of' the third-class passengers had been sent to the captain. That particular morning J. Carpenter, the purser, said the food required by the men was slightly burnt but was quite eatable. It was good food and the fault was in the cooking. He had complaints from the passengers, but not of a serious nature, about the cooking. He admitted the cooking was not good. Owing, to the war there was the greatest difficulty in obtaining competent cooks. Third-class passengers explained that while they had dry hash for breakfast the stewards. had loin chops. After the stewards were put on the Board of Trade rations, they asked to-be again put on the old rations. He made.no promise, but next day they resinned work. William -Braine, chief steward, said the chief complaints from the passengers came from reservists who were rejects from the trenches. The case is proceeding.