STOWAWAY'S FARE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 March 1919, Page 7

STOWAWAY'S FARE.

RECOVERY BY COMPANY. UNSUCCESSFUL DEFENCE. Wellington, Tuesday. Reserved Judgment was given by Mr. Riddell, S.M., to-day, in an unusual ease, in whicli Michael O'Connor sued the Union Steam Ship Company for the sum of £2B 14s Id, alleged to have been tijjken from plaintiff by the company in August 1018, and which the company refused to pay in full when demand was made. Plaintiff was one of a party of stowaways, but on the voyage to Sydney the party was discovered and brought back to Wellington by the next boat. O'Connor was charged with leaving New Zealand without a permit, and sentenced to three months' imprisonment, and was also convicted on the charge of stowing away, and ordered to pay the boat fare to and from Sydney, £9. O'Connor did not pay, and was kept in prison for an additional month. The company admitted it held £2B 4s Id, taken from O'Connor when he was found on the steamer, but counter-claimed for £9, plus 4s 8d goods suplied, and before the action was taken offered to pay the amount held less £!) 4s Bd. Plaintiff declined the offer; though he admitted liability for the smaller sum. The company' paid £1!» 0s 5d into Court. Plaintiff submitted that Ids position was affected by section 2JB of the Justices of the Peace Act, 11108, that having suffered a term of imprisonment he was released from further proceedings, civil or criminal. Judgment was given for plaintiff for £!• 4r 3d over and above the amount paid into Court, with £1 Ids costs, and judgment for the company on the coun-ter-claim for £9 4s Bd,'and costs £1 4s.