TROUBLES ON SHIP

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 900, 18 February 1930, Page 1

TROUBLES ON SHIP

OFFICER FINED AFTER ASSAULT ON MASTER CREW WITH GRIEVANCE While the Norwegian ship June was anchored in the stream ready to sail, her captain, second and third engineer met in the Police Court this morning. Herman Neiison, the second engineer, was fined £5 for assaulting his captain, Thor Olaf Hannevig. A second charge of assaulting the third engineer, Sigud Andersen Yggesth, tvas withdrawn by the police when Yggesth declined to give evidence. Neiison was described as a Norwegian engineer, aged 33. The case was held up for half an hour until the services of an interpreter could be obtained, accused remarking that he could not understand English “very good.” The captain naively suggested that he would interpret, but Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., gently pointed out that his position as one of the men allegedly assaulted and a witness would rather disqualify him as an interpreter. , When the interpreter arrived, Neiison explained that he was drunk and could remember nothing of the events which had led to the charges against him. Senior-Sergeant O’Grady outlined the case. Neiison had come on board drunk. After assaulting the captain he had tackled the third engineer and when the police arrived he had had the engineer on the floor and appeared to be making a determined effort to strangle the man. “I am told he has behaved like this at every port since he was signed on at Newcastle, England, last June,” added the seniorsergeant.' Yggesth would bring no graver accusation against Neiison-than that he had been a little argumentative. “I don’t want any charge against him,” he declared. Captain Hannevig showed a large purple bruise on his upper arm where, he said, accused had grabbed him. as witness was taking a statement front him last evening. Neiison had also mauled his face, the captain added. There was money due to him on the ship. “I am sorry it happened and l will behave myself in future,” said Neiison through the interpreter. “He had better behave himself, or some other magistrate will send him to gaol,” commented Mr. Hunt and imposed the fine. Captain Hannevig: I won’t take him back on my ship. The Magistrate: You’ll have to. He is a prohibited immigrant. The Captain: I’ll put up the money to have him deported. EARLIER TROUBLE Before the arrest of Neiison the June had been held up by the crew’s demand for a part of their wages before sailing time. The money was paid, and the departure of the vessel was delayed until 10 o’clock last evening in order that the crew might purchase necessities in the city. Then came the arrest of the engineer, and the vessel, by this time in the stream, was held up until,after the court case could be settled, it appears that there will be now a further delay following the captain’s refusal to sail with his second engineer. It is understood that members of the crew are still ashore. The June arrived from Nauru Island on Saturday to obtain further coal supplies. The bunkers were replenished at the King’s Wharf yesterday and the June was to have sailed last evening for Lyttelton and Port Chalmers to unload a cargo of phosphate.