DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 May 1918, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

WATERSIDE ACCIDENTS. \ fess Association.—Copyright, Wellington, Last Night. At tlio Waterside Commission to-daj a number of watersiders gave evidenct regarding gear, hatchings, etc. James Laurenson suggested the' Marine Department should take over the full control of inspection of ships, and wharves. The same witness produced a liemp rope which, exteriorly, looked good, but when opened oijt proved ex* tremely faulty, many of the stijmds be* ing very short. Captain M'Artliur said the fault was not with the owners of the vessels, but with the issuers of rotten stuff.

The chairman: Yes, they ought to be in gaol.

James G. Bruce, secretary to the Wellington Waterside Workers, said that lately, there had not been so many accidents. That he attributed to the new working conditions. The running gear of vessels trading to AVellington was not in goi>d order. He had complained to the authorities aixnit an oil-laden ship being berthed with a hulk and three collicrs, find a railway engine running alongside but the ship was not moved. Another vessel, with Benzine aboard, worked her general cargo with naked lights- No oil ship should be berthed where a railway was working. He presented a list of 40S accidents which occurred 'between July 31, and May M last, occasioning more than a fortnight's lay-up. Grabs should not be used. They tore cranes and gear about, and ships bad nofc been ibuilt for graibs to be worfced on them. , AUCKLAND COURTS, Auckland, Last Night. At the Supreme Court , an" old man named William McLean was sentenced to five years' imprisonment and declared an habitual criminal, for an indecent assault on a little girl. In 1882 and again in 1880 he was sentenced for indecent assault. At the Police Court, Henry Edgar Forgie was fined £IQO for betting at the Auckland trots on April 13. A case arising out of the recent seiz* ure of Sanford's trawlers, the Countess and Mtfriel, terminated to-day, after a hearing occupying several days. The lespective masters were charged with, trawling within tho prohibited limits ot Hauraki Gulf, and not carrying trawling lights. The cases were dismissed, the Magistrate saying there was great doubt as to the position of the vessels. It was shown m the evidence that the inspector had pointed out various landmarks which witnesses for the defence asserted were not those named by him.