WHARF ACCIDENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 228, 26 September 1929, Page 9

WHARF ACCIDENT.

MAGISTRATE'S DECISION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association,) DUNEDIN, this day. Proceedings were resumed to-day in the Magistrate's Court in the charge against George Victor Harris, master of ■the steamer City of Lincoln. The proceedings follow an accident which occurred ,to three watersiders when the ship was being unloaded at Wellington on September 16. A load of three tons was placed on a hook the safe working load of which was loewt. The charges were amended by the Crown. Defendant stated that the ship provided gear suitable for the discharge of any cargo, and before the case which fell on the men was unloaded those working it should have gone to a ship's officer for the gear. The chief officer stated that the gear was rigged at the stevedore's request, 'the permanent gear 'being too slow for light cargo. He had given an instruction that no more than two ca-ses of tobacco be lifted with the gear. The magistrate said the master must be absolved in jregard to allowing the lifting of too heavy a weight, but lie must be convicted for a minor breach, in using unstamped gear. He was fined £2 and costs. Witnesses' expenses were disallowed, because the case should have been heard in- Wellington.