INJURED THREE MEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 227, 25 September 1929, Page 8

INJURED THREE MEN.

CASE DROPPED ON WHARF.

SHIP'S MASTER CHARGED.,

BREACH OF REGULATIONS

ALLEGED.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, this day.

George Victor Harris, master of the steamer City of Lincoln, was charged in the Magistrate's Court to-day with committing a breach of the general 'harbour regulations at Wellington on September 10, in that he failed, to comply with the eafe working of loads regulations, thereby causing injury to three persons. The injury was occasioned by placing a load of approximately three tons upon a lead block, for which eafe loading was not more than fifteen cwt. He pleaded not guilty. Captain Eraser (Superintendent of Mercantile Marine) said that through the dropping of a case while cargo was 'being unloaded one waterside worker was seriously injured and two others were slightly injured. Captain King, surveyor of ships at Wellington, said that at the request of the stevedore to get more speed, lighter gear 'had 'been rigged, but the workers were not told not to touch 'heavy cargo. The weight of the case which fell was 46301b. It had the weight clearly clearly stamped on it. The block which was iised had no weight stamped on it. Mr. A. N. Haggitt, for the defence, submitted that no offence was disclosed under the section of the Act invoked by the prosecution. He did not know what definite charge he had to meet and did not want to be in the position of putting the master in the 'box, allowing the Crown to go on a "fishing expedition" to prove the case. The magistrate adjourned the case till to-morrow, to enable Captain Fraser to consult the Crown Solicitor and put the charge in proper form.