FIREMEN DESERT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 901, 19 February 1930, Page 1

FIREMEN DESERT

LEAP FROM SHIP’S DECK TO LAUNCH JUNE AGAIN DELAYED Waving a cheery farewell to their ship, which was anchored in the stream ready to sail for Southern ports, five firemen and a seaman from the Norwegian ship June jumped to the deck of a passing launch yesterday, and came ashore. This morning, at the Police Court, they were each fined two days’ pay, and ordered to be placed aboard the vessel, which is to sail shortly. Tliorwald Hansen, aged 21; Anders Einarsen, aged 35; Klaus Hobland, aged 32; Olaf Ilegg, aged 33; and Folf Stokke, aged 22, all firemen, and John Johnsen, a seaman, aged 29, were charged with being absent without leave from the June. The men made no answer to the charge, and Captain Hannevig said all the accused had been shipped by him at Newcastle, England. Yesterday, while the vessel was out in the stream, a launch had come in close. The chief officer had called out to the launchnian to keep off, but he had been close to the vessel, which was low in the water, being heavily laden. The men had jumped for the launch, and waved good-bye as they were carried ashore.

The men had no answer to make to the charge, and Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., remarked that he could order them to forfeit two days’ pay or send them to gaol for 14 days. As the captain wanted to sail immediately, he would adopt the former course. Hobland was fined a further 5s for being found drunk in Stanley Street. Troubles have come thickly upon the June, which put into Auckland for coal on Saturday as she was on her way to Lyttelton and Port Chalmers with a cargo of phosphate from Nauru Island. The crew demanded a part of their wages before they would work the ship. The money was paid, and the ship's departure was delayed while the men went ashore to buy necessities. Then, on Monday evening, the second engineer had come aboard under the influence of liquor and assaulted the captain. He was arrested, and the ship was again held up until the case was disposed of in the Police Court yesterday, when the engineer was fined £5. Captain Hannevig then said it was his intention to sail as soon as possible, but the sudden departure of six members of his crew resulted in a further delay. It is expected that the June will have gone by this evening.