WATCHMEN AT LYTTELTON

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24226, 6 April 1944, Page 3

WATCHMEN AT LYTTELTON

VIEWS OF HARBOUR BOARD GUARDING OF DREDGE CANTERBURY The guarding of the wharves at Lyttelton was discussed by members of the Lyttelton Harbour Board at their Meeting yesterday, when Mr R. E. Cairns proposed that the nightwatchman should be reinstated on the dredge Canterbury. Mr Cairns said that at the present time the armed forces did not patrol the wharves, and there was only a skeleton force of police; but other members claimed that the port was adequately looked after by the police- and the board’s present nightwatchmen. Alter discussion, the board decided to refer the question of nightwatchmen at the port to the staff committee for consideration.

Mr Cairns said that he did not feel happy at the way the board was neglecting a very valuable vessel at Lyttelton. For the safety of the board an d the vessel the nightwatchman ought to be reinstated. If no one was in charge of the dredge obviously it was time that someone was in charge. Anything might happen to an unguarded vessel, and even to a vessel moored to the wharf. A heavy swell might carry away the moorings. The board was the owner of a vessel which, for its size, must be one of the most expensive in the world, considering its original cost and the cost of salvage a ?<i restoration. By reinstating the nightwatchman the board could say that it had taken every possible care against accidents in the future. Captain T. H. McCombs, M.P., said 1,6 felt very uneasy that the board was hot taking the precautions which it had taken for many years. He felt that the board had made a mistake m dispensing with the nightwatchman. The harbourmaster (Captain J. Plowman) said there were two nightwatchmen on the wharves, except on Mondays and Fridays, and at the weekends.

Mr P. E. Sutton said that the cost £l5OQ V^ i fl g ntehtwatchmen would be

Mr P. W. Freeman said that the port was adequately looked after by the Police and the board’s nightwatchmen. It might be possible to extend the mghtwatchmen’s duties. Mr W. S. Mac Gibbon. who suggested mat the question should be referred 10 the staff committee, said the port was not watched the whole time. WShtwatchmen were on duty at cerwm times and not at other times.