BENZINE CARGOES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 306, 22 September 1919, Page 6

BENZINE CARGOES

THE SEAMEN'S THREAT . STRONG REPRESENTATIONS TO MINISTER A deputation representing the Seamen's Federation interviewed the Minister of Murine (Hon. W. 11. Herries) on Saturday with reference to benzine cargoes and other matters. It was headed b) Mr. W. T. Young, secretary of the federation. Mr. Young presented tht> resolution of tho Seamen's National Council regarding benzine cargoes, and also asked for on amendment of the shipping law to enable seamen to claim medical benefits for illness contracted while serving on ships even if they had signed off the articles before the benefits wero required. Tho liability of the shipping company should not terminate with the articles, but should continue for, thrco months. The union asked that a sen/man invalided ashoro at a port outside New Zealand should bo returned to tho Dominion by tho first available, boat after recovery and should receive wages and medical expenses up to three months, Tho present position was that wageft ceased when the man was invalided ashore, and the company took no further liability. Then tho union asked that in the event of a seaman dying after being invalided ashoro, accrued wages should be paid to tho next-of-kin, or failing this, to the fund for aged and indigent sailors. It was the oustom in New Zealand for shipping oompanies .to give a guarantee to cover their liability in respect of seamen invalided ashore, but tho union considered that the old practice of requiring a money deposit should be revived. Mr. Yoitngi further asked, on behalf of the union, that no members of a ship's creiy should 1m allowed to . work in bunkers when they were being filled. There should be 110 charge for a certificate of discharge, and all reports regarding conduct and ability should be excluded from thq certificate, which should simply state the period of service. • The present system, said Mr. Young, tended to produce "wholesale victimisation." Another request was that the power to suspend tho provisions of the Shipping Act shoijld be taken away from the Minister of Marine and given to a Marine Council containing representatives of the Government, the seamen, the marine officers and the engineers. This arrangement .was embodied already in the Australian law. Certain alterations in the qualification of seamen wero also desired.,

"Glaring Laxity," The Minister asked what the federation meant by the words "glaring laxity" in the resolution regarding the conveyance of benzine. The words were an accusation against the authorities. • , , „ Mr. Young: "And it is well founded. There had been, he said, breaches of the regulations at Napier. Ho had already published a statement regarding his expediences on the ICotonui where he had found benzine fumes making the men s quarters almost uninhabitable. Ho sent for the ship's surveyor on that occasion and was told that cargo could not be held up. Eventually the owners, under pressure, agreed to run a daylight trip to Gisborno and to provide accommodation for the men ashore that night. There had been a glaring breach of the regulations on another steamer. The regulations were of little value at present, since it was useless to provide'that the bulkheads must be airtight when there were other channels for the fumes. .He referred to the ease of the Tainui. Tho Minister said.that as there would be a magisterial inquiry regarding that ease it would be better to reserve com.meut. , A Dofiant Note, Mr. Young argued that airtight bulkheads were not effective unless there were also collision Dulkheads running light down' to tho skin of the ship in order to prevent fumes travelling along the bilges. The bulkheads iii somp of the ships were very close to tho stokeholds, and the heat might bo sufficient to cause an explosion when benzine was being carried. "There are many ships, that are not safe for benzine cargoes," said Mr. Young. "There is a more important consideration than benzine, and that is human life. So far as we are concerned—and wo aro quite straight about it, as there is no ii6e mincing matters—no more benzino is going to be earned until tho ships aru made safe to carry it. We know there are certain war regulations bearing oil this matter, but we say you can do what you like with them. \\e aro going to look after lifo Mid lipy» It was a matter of general knowledge that the tins in which motor spirit was carried were fragile and leaked quickly if they got knocked about."

The Minister's Reply. The Minister, in reply, said lie would go carefully into the matter. Ho realised its importance from the point of view ot fcho safety of the men who manned the ships used for the carriage of spirit, ho would see tMt the regulations were mado effective if. they were not so already, ills predecessor in l office, had intended that they should be effective. That point had been emphasised when the matter was before Cabinet. He would get information regarding the operation of the regulations. 'The other matters that had been mentioned by Mr. Young would receivo consideration. He could not promise to place an amendment to Ijlio Shipping and Seamen Act before parliament during the present session, but ho would SCO what could ,bo done witli matters that appeared to be urgent.