SHIPPING AND SEAMEN'S ACT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 419, 30 January 1909, Page 6

SHIPPING AND SEAMEN'S ACT.

;; , : ; f v , : m;i^6m^p/-'■,.;■,■::':■[,■.■■■ , ,;(BT TELEGBAFH-γPRESS ASSOCIATION.). - ''. ■ Clirlstchuroh, January 29; . ■ An anomaly, in. the, Shipping, and Seamen's iAqt, 1903 with, regard''to the 'manning , scale was'B.hbwii'to.exist'by , a/case' against the master of-a-'collier!which!-was .dealt ;with.at. the ''Lytteltpn', Police. "Court ; this', morning, l '~ • MatthW ■Sillar's, , master'Of Canopus, ■% was, charged ; with ; ha'vihg commit ted'a of/Section:'34':of<the Shipping* and. Seamen's :Act, >; j?o3!■ > by; failing :to,carry two 'trimmers as , required- by- the- schedul? for a 'ship -. of/-1200 .'hbfse-power.'. , Defendant pleaded guilty.;-.'■'■> '■' ::''■'- \' '; ;: ':;•.; . Cajptain, Marciel, 'Superintendent ; of' Mer-' , cantile Marine,at ; ;Lyttelkm,; explained -.that' under, the schedule .the- Canopus should carry' ..three.- ■ firemen, ■' '.two " t'rimniersi,, •' and two greasers. '■■ As aVmatterof fadt'tne'- vessM'carV •ri^> , six:firenidn-and'-thrfi6'£r€aSersIvwKic£1 v wKic£' r T(raß. . two' men - in'excess'of what'-was .'required, by. 'the' Act;; The shijo'was.'paying^niore'wages mrespeot _of; her'six. firemen. tsan !sKe would pe 'if -: y carrying', three.': nrenieri. ahd'-'twp' trim-, mersj' Another: section-pi-the:■Act:,provide'd,- , howerer'/ that the., men'. ■ cpnlct ■ not {be <called : upon 't0,.d0. work', other .than'.in that capacity in -which, they had signed-.on, 'except' in cases. of emergency. '■'-.•■ i. ''■ 'v i , ■■ .■;■•»'■..'■. >-. '■■■ ■ _ The', defencb set: iipVwas that' the , Canopus. did- not'require. any'trimmers'(her .'bunkers' being, practically ■'■ self-trimming),'. except when;she had beep held up' for .two' or three days in bad weather. The firemen CQuld (then do any trimmfng !If the Canqpus carried' only three- firemen l and .the two tnmmeri,the:]atter: not be.compelled to.clo ■ "firing": except 'in.- cases of .emefgeiicy: There' would -be practically;' nothing,for;trimnier's' ii ;do on board. ; ;, ' ■ •■{'.??< ;■•■■■■••*:•..■•■■.■/•■-.: .;■•■ Captain/Marpie) sajd.that no provision 'had been:- made. , for'.this' : :iri 'th'e.'.Act,'so 'that: the case dealt.'with':an' anomaly.'V- " -.'.. ~j , , ' Captain:; thatithe- Canopus. ; had been "clea|ed",frojh;D.unedin and.from West-' port on the understanding, that no trimmers' wereneeded; :. ; <; :.';' iiJ-;'; -v...:''. .:• Tv' Captain Marciel.said that was so. been; instructed by the Marine Ifep.artment to prosecute Captain,' Lobb, he was ill ; the : 'charge:had been brought: ; against. Cap-. tain.Sillars:' : .: ;:' -."•. V ■'.';,':>; ! -.-.. ;';.';:.; , The Bench': cohVicted 'Captain'.' and, ordered him toi/pay ■obstsV,7s:-.6d; "'.. '■■'''. :'■ . : The; Bench- recommehdeJ .Captain' Marciel to:suggest:thatian.alWration should be'mado in the/Act; to.!provide:fo^'such;'cases'as;that of the;Canopus. :; : •' -.-. 'i,'-,f:,i ''•"•:■■•'. . v ' ■-£"