FIREMEN AS GREASERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 288, 3 December 1907, Page 2

FIREMEN AS GREASERS.

IMPORTANT SHIPPING DECISION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) I WELLINGTON, Monday. Mr. Riddell, S.M., gave his reserved jnd.ament to-day in a case of considerable j importance to owners of small trading; ptearn-ers. James 'Wilis was charged by' the Marine Detriment that on Septem- j Lor 10, IVK>7, at, Wellington, being the master of the steamship Wakatu. he em- ! ployed on board the steamship two seanion who were carried in a capacity other than that tor which they were engaged. Hio Worship said, inter alia, "By subBPCtion 4 hi section 51, imdcr which this information is laid, a 'seaman carried in accordance with the: requirements of the ! third schedule shall not. except in case of emergency, he employed on board a I Enip in a capacity other than that for' which he was engaged, as shown by the | agreement. Although the schedule pre-! scribes the proper number of seamen to ■ be carried :ii steamers over 750 horse-1 power it does not do so for those under i that power, and the master of a small! st-eamer can only ascertain that he is not ! complying with the Act by a reference to ' sab-section 4of section 51. Then after reference the ntimln-r of extra greasers or trimmers is left to the option of each particular master. Further, if it is com-1 pulsory for a master to carry greasers or trimmers not prescribed by the schedule, these extra men could be empioyed in any other rapacity on the j vessel because the" would not be seamen j carried in accordance -with the third i schedule The sab-section would, therefore. :ipFb" to areasors and tnnuners car-I Tl >,; r,,. steamers over 750 horse-power, I but not to greasers or trimmers carried on steamprs under 750 horse-power." | in conclusion hie Worship considered j trip- in the present ca.se defendant, having complied with the third schedule, had not committed an offence against Eecti.-in .">1 ■ The information was dismissed naout costs. I