SHIP'S DESERTER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 221, 30 December 1910, Page 5

SHIP'S DESERTER

SENT TO GAOL FOR A MONTH. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. "It is a most heinous offence." remarked Dr. McArthur, S.M., when hearing the case against a man named Geo. McLeod of deserting from the steamer Clan McLaren. Accused pleaded guilty. Sub-Inspector Norwood said that McLeod and three others deserted from the ship just, before she was to sail, and others had to be taken on to avoid delay. Those taken on demanded £4O for the trip Home, and the agents had to pay that amount, which was at the rate of about £1 a day. The agents asked for a severe penalty, so as to prevent the practice being continued, as it put them to very great expense and caused much inconvenience.

His Worship: And they remain here, and we don't know what sort of characters they are.

To Accused: What have you to say? McLeod: Nothing at all: His Worship: That means that it was an arranged affair to leave the ship in the lurch, and the agents had to pay other men £4O each to go Home. Sub-Inspector Norwood said one of the men had given an order for payment of half his wages to some person in the Old Country, and the agents had had to cable Home to stop payment. His Worship: More expense. They just use the position of firemen to get out here. Have there been any other cases lately? k The Sub-Inspector said three or four vessels had been treated; in the same way. In one case all the deck-hands cleared out.'

His Worship: And yet these people cry out because a few foreigners are employed. I think it is a most heinous offence. You will be sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labor.