TROUBLE ON THE PAKEHA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 105, 26 September 1914, Page 4

TROUBLE ON THE PAKEHA.

AUSTRIAN'S AXD T3ERMAN6 OUSTED. Br . Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Some difficulty- haa arisen aboard the s.s. Pakeha, which arrived at Auckland several days ago from London, on account of the presence among tie crew of an Austrian and «ix Germans. The British firemen a»d greasers on the boat yesterday afternoon informed the captain that they would not work, while foreigners belonging to nations with which Britain was at war remained on the ship. The captain endeavored to persuade the men to turn to, but they maintained their position, and the captain took their names and had warrants issued for their arrest for refusing to obey lawful commands.

This afternoon, when arrested, the firemen were brought before Mr B. C. Cutten, S.M. Mr Bagnall, for the captain, said that arrangements had been made to discharge the Germans. As a matter of fact, the captain had entered into arrangements to that end before the trouble arose, and he told the men so yesterday, but they refused to accept his assurance. His difficulty was that it entailed an extra cost of £250, for which he would be personally liable if I he had not got the company's sanction. His Worship said that in the present state of things he was sure no law court would convict the men, though their act had been rather impulsive, and he suggested that the charges be withdrawn. The captain said he would withdraw the charges if the men gave an undertaking to go back to the ship and resume work peacefully. The men with one voice said they'would, bo long as there were no Germans in the crew. So the charges were withdrawn.