BENZINE CARGOES.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 222, 18 September 1919, Page 7

BENZINE CARGOES.

PROTECTION OF SEAMEN. DEIL-ND FOR SAFEGUARDS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ■WELLINGTON, this day. At the annual meeting of the National Council of the Federated Seamen's Union now being held the disaster to the Tainui and her crew was ._. considered. Members stood, and in silence passed the following resolution: "That the National Council of the Federated Seamen's Union, now in annual meeting, respectfully tenders the relatives and friends of the crew of the steamer Tainui the sincere sympathy and condolences of the organised seamen of New Zealand in the great loss they have sustained in the disaster, and the council expresses great abhorrence of laxity of the proper authorities in permitting ships with benzine cargo putting to sea without being properly equipped for the carriage of the cargo in question. Further, the council is of opinion that seamen should refuse to proceed to 6ca in any ship with benzine cargo unless the holds of the ship are so constructed as to prevent benzine fumes j-jnetrating to any other part of the vessel beyond- tbe holds.'-

Tbe general secretary of the Union, Mr. W. T. Young, in a statement to the Press, said that if those in power for the moment will not act to preserve life and limb other means will have to be taken by other men, even %t the risk of offending the war regulations.