LOADING OPERATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1929, Page 5

LOADING OPERATIONS

AN ALLEGED BREACH. 1 > ■ (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Sept. 25. At the Police Court this morning, George Victor Harris, master of the steamer City of Lincoln, was charged will committing a.breach of the general harbour regulations at Wellington on September 16 in that he failed to comply with 'the safe working of the load regulations, thereby causing injury, to three persons occasioned by plaJng a load, of approximately 3 tons, upon a • le d block for which the safe loading was not more than fifteen cwt. He pleaded not gu.lty. Captain Fraser, (Supt. of Mercantile Marine) said through the dropping of a case while cargo was being unloaded one watersider was seriously, and two others slightly, injured. Captain King ( urveyor of Ships at Wellington) said at the Request of the stevedore to get more speed, lighter gear had been rigged, but the workers were not told not to touch heavy cargo. The weight of the case whi, h fell ,was 46101bs and had weight clearly stamp ed on it. The block which was used had no weight stamped on it. v A. N. Haggit ror the Defence, submitted the section of the Act under which his client was charged, disclosed no offence. He did not know what definite charge he hud to meet. He did not want to -be in the position of putting the muster in the box and allowing the Crown to go on a fishing expedition to prove the- case. The Magistrate adjourned the case till tomorrow, to enable Mr Fraser to consult his solicitor, and put the charge in proper form.