DISOBEDIENT SEAMEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1916, Page 8

DISOBEDIENT SEAMEN.

FOOD ON SHIPBOARD. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Jan. 28. In the Police Court, nine stewards of the steamship Tainni 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, at 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 nut on Board of Trade rations and had meals with the crew. Mr. Kershaw, chief officer, crossexamined, said he had heard that a petition signed by about 200 third-class passengers had been sent to the captain that particular morning. J. Carpenter, purser, said the food complained of by the men was slightly burnt, but was quite eatable. It was good food, the fault was ,in the cooking. He had complaints from passengers, none of a serious nature, about the cooking. He admitted that the cooking was not good. Owing to the war they had the greatest difficulty in obtaining competent cooks. The thirdclass passengers explained that while they had dry hash for breakfast the 6 tewards had loin chops. After the stewards were put on Board of Trade rations they asked to be again put on the old rations. He made no promise, but next day 'they resumed work. Wm. Braine, chief steward, said the chief complaints from passengers came from reservists who were rejects from the trenches. The ease is proceeding.