CRIMPING AT NEWCASTLE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9116, 16 June 1908, Page 4

CRIMPING AT NEWCASTLE.

In spite of the special legislation enacted last year to prevent crimping 1 , that evil is said to be worse than ever at the Port of Newcastle (New South Wales), where the "crimps" have actually made "a corner in sailors." A sub-committee tf the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce recently reported, so a cable informed us. that there is ground for complaint regarding crimping at Newcastle, and urged the Government to take strong measures to suppress the "blood-money" evil. It is alleged that the operator? are charging as much as £4 per head for supplying sailor* to deep-sea ships, and as the shipmasters must' have the men to work the ship to her destination, they submit to be mulcted by the crimps. The matter was taken up by the Premier of New South Wales, who asked Sub-Inspector Goulder, of Newcastle, to consult with the local Chamber of Commerce, and ask that body to supply information about specific cases. The Sub-Inspector asserted that crimping was not carried on. It is acknowledged in Newcastle, however, that the system 01 extorting what is known as "bloodmoney" prevails. The difference, the Premier observes, between the two cases is vory clear. Crimping is a penal offence; obtaining a or "blood-money," for peamen is not an offence, and is really a matter b3tween the man who supplies the men at d tlio ship's captain. There ia no doubt this practice is objectionable, and may lead to serious abuse.