THREE MASTERS FINED

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22371, 7 April 1938, Page 9

THREE MASTERS FINED

PASSENGER VESSELS OVERLOADED FIRST PROSECUTION IN LYTTELTON For overloading their vessels, two launch masters and the master of a small passenger steamer, all engaged in the harbour passenger trade at Lyttelton, were each convicted and fined at the Lyttelton Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr F. F. Reid, S.M. George Percival Evans, superintendent of the Government Marine Department, Lyttelton, proceeded against Henry Grennell, master of the launch Awhina-Nui, for having, on March 13, carried eight passengers in excess of

the number for which his launch was licensed. Similar charges were preferred against Rangi Forsyth for having carried seven passengers in excess in the launch Tui, and against Thomas Hempstalk for carrying 10 excess passengers in the steamer John Anderson. Mr A. W. Brown prosecuted, and Mr R. A. Young appeared for all three defendants, who pleaded gu.-lty. Mr Brown said that Sunday, March 13, was a very busy day on the harbour. The vessels were engaged in bringing passengers back to Lyttelton. Grennell, who had a licence for 56 passengers, brought 64. The Tui’s licence allowed for 45, and Forsyth permitted 52 to travel. The John Anderson had a licence for 180, but 190 were aboard. It was admitted that in these cases the excess passenger;; did not increase the load to the danger point The defendants had stated that the passengers had rushed the vessels and there was difficulty in counting them. Forsyth had actually put some back on shore, because he realised that the boat was overloaded. It was the first prosecution of its kind ijt and the case* were brought M ft-'

warning. Defendants were all wellknown masters. Mr Young said the cases had been put very fairly by Mr Brown. Hempstalk had been a master for 30 years, and had carried about 100,000 passengers without a mishap. He carried only 10 more than his number. ISO, and this included all children. The John Anderson had formerly been licensed to carry 247. Grennell had had 20 years' service, with a good record. Forsyth actually knew that a count was to be made, and had put passengers ashore, but he had estimated wrongly the number of passengers still aboard. The stability of the boats was not in any way affected, and the sea was very calm. . The Magistrate said that in view of what the prosecution had said about the cases being brought as a warning, he did not propose to impose a heavy penalty. At the same time, publicity had recently been given to a disaster in Sydney, where a launch capsized and drowned several passengers. Each of the defendants would be fined los and ordered to pay costs 10s and sott■eitoc* fee. £1 la.