PASSENGERS ON FISHING LAUNCHES

Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1929, Page 3

PASSENGERS ON FISHING LAUNCHES

OWNER. AfJI) MASTER «?

■■..! n.£ July I.'. \ / At the Magistrate’s Court to-day,: James Johnson, owner, and Maurice Fieldj master of the launch'Wikirig,’ »,wwe,; 7 proaecute4, the -Marine . :De-j .par’tment fol* plying for hire between' Kapiti.% Island; ... '•ipihput • haring -ja ■ ; certifipatle •asto t : ivithoutVbeing. a certificat-’ v< ed-,master. . . /<•.• .■ j: 'yr ; pifr gfo v "j Copk, /. Wn,prosecuting,f \ .-itated that • numerouscomplaints s had '/been .’ Received' that fishing launches tVore, cnot properly - looked -after : jThe realised that there/might'he : considerable danger to the: ‘public rifi the launches that had notj been surveyed and , proved to be pro-' perly found aigl maintained, -were allowed to be used -for i carrying pas-< seiigers. Whey .might v,-not.i;be carryiitig srifficieht li'fe-sriving gear, rind it tvas ‘ thus important that the craft . shOuld: be kept under supervision. The Department felt that one day there might be'■very •'-accident and . thoiyblame, u-puld.-be put on the De-i partment through hot taking steps to j :r jsee ' tlia't /the i.liuibljc.were ' fully pro- i tested.. ; It was difficult to get evi-j uebce bfgainSt -'launch Owners, as l they I always maintained that they were-

taking people for jaunts and not for; ■ hire A..• >; .. j -- After evidence.had *bcen heard,.,Mr; v: ' Ijllliptt ;.f.pr-defendants, submitted that, : '•ynder-ith« i 'iAjneiidi : ng ; there was no .‘obligation to, grit a fishing /boat-under t,enj,tons,,-snryey’ed..{!The /Viking was > v purely.:a 3 fishing i boat, nor,. was. -there fifty- ,nried urider the 'Amending .Act for a'fisthihg boat. to. carry a certificated; •mrastjer: or .engineer. The carrying of passengers/, was,/asidri line. /Mc.fCdoke, contended that..the. -boat; •< " ; \vas not > a--fishing boat, according to ‘ :'a fishing «boat/;.inhst / she 'Vi usdd vexdusivel'y)for /that work, if it was to he exempted under the-'Act. The Magistrate, reserved his decision.