STOWAGE OF BENZINE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 23, 22 October 1919, Page 7

STOWAGE OF BENZINE

WilO SHOULD ADMINISTER THE REGULATIONS? ' Br TelesraDh—Pren Annotation. Christchurch, October 21. In the course of the examination of Captain Wilcox, Surveyor of Ships, at the inquiry into tho loss of the Tainui, Mr. Young, representing the Seamen's Union, .questioned tho witness as to why 3ie hadj not in the exercise of his duties, inspected tne stowage of the benzine and ploughs. Captain Wilcox said 110 had not known prior to tho disaster that there wcro ploughs in the !.ihip, but ho understood that benzine was to be carried for Wanganui, although he had received no official notification ot this

Mr. Raymond, K.C., representing tho Marine Department, objected to the questions, as Captain Wilcox was not required to inspect cargo in the holds of ships. All he was required.to do was to eee that deck cargo was properly lashed and stowed. The president, Mr. M'Carthy, S.M.: But what, we want to know ia, who is to administer these regulations covering the stowing of benzine? Mr. Raymond: Any officer of tihe Maxine Department or police .or any member of the public can lay informations if thought necessary. The president: But there is no ono specially charged with the duty of seein" that these regulations are carried out.

'•.Mr. Raymond admitted that from his reading of the regulations there was not a special officer appointed to See flint the regulations were observed, but the Marine Department could not have an officer watching overv slin? put into all boat*. .Apporentlv the enforcing of the regulations devolved on harbour boards, n*' hha .regulations were made under the Harbours Act, hut there were no special officers appointed for the purpose. '

Tho president: That seems fo. Mr. Young: If that is so, the reflations concerning benzine are quite valueless, and, like a lot 'of other things on paper; but I want to make the point that it is incumbent on the owners of shins carrying bonzino to notify tho authorities what other cargo they are with benzine.

I Mr. Burfinnan (for the Refrigerating Company): There is no such reeulatimi. Mr. Young: Regulation 6 says thit cargo carried with benzine should lie stowed in such a manner as to avoid damaging tho receptacles containing benzine or petroleum.

The president: But that does not say that the Marine Department shall be notified as tn what cr.rsro is carried or how it is stowed.

On making an examination of tho regulations the president said tliov were in themselves contradictory. Clause 6 of the new regulations, gazetted on March 11. provided that holds "r snares where poiroleum was stowed should be separated by airtight and watertight bulkheads from spaces where other cargo may not bo stowed. Clni><=° 12 (b) ■provided for the ipsuo of a'certificate as to a ship's fitness to carry petroleum on the annual survey being made, but such a certificate should he issued subject to the I condition that it might lie withdrawn at any time if th'H Minister or surveyor of ships deemed it necessary to do so. ) Mr. Young: I submit that Ihe3o regulations are farcical.

Re-examined by Mr. Raymond, Captain Wilcox said that if officers of the Marine Department wero made sible for seeing that cargo was properly stowed in accordance with the reeulaiions. there would need to be an officer watching the loading of every vessel, like tally clerks.