SHIPS' SLINGS & GEAR.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2114, 3 April 1914, Page 8

SHIPS' SLINGS & GEAR.

SAFETY IN HOLDS. THE FATALITY ON THE MAITAI. Tho inquest was continued before Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., Coroner, yesterday, -regarding the death of the wharf labourer, Thomas Cauldwell, who met with a fatal accident whilo working on tho U.S.S. Company's Maitai on Tuesday. Senior-Sergeant Mullanoy conducted tho proceedings for the police, Mr. E. J. Fitztfibhon appeared for Mrs. Cauldwell (widow of deceased), Mr. H. F. Von Haast for the Wharf Labourers' Union, and Mr. P. Levi watched the proceedings on behalf of the Union Steam Ship Company. Victor Batsoii', wharf labourer, who was working in the same gang as deceased when tho accident occurred, vstated that tho first that he saw was a dark mass coming down the hatchway. When the sacks struck deceased a cloud of dust was raised. Witness was standing- on the opposite side of the hatchway from deceased. Ho could not account for tho rope breaking. Mr. Von Haast: If the rope was defective that would account for its breaking? Witness: Yes. I should say so.

Where wore the sacks when you saw them?—" They were very close to tho deceased."

Did you hear any shouts?—" Yes. Either to 'Stand clear' or 'Stand from under.'"

Mr. Von Haast put in the agreement under which the men wero working, Clause 28 reading: "The '.weight and constitution of the slings is to be left to the discretion of tho employers, as formerly." To Mr. Levi: It was agreed that, before venturing out from cover, the men should look up the'hatchway to bcq that all was clear.

To Mr. Fifczgibbon: There were eight sacks in tho sling which broke, each sack, with contents, weighing about 1J cwt. Such Accidents Frequent. Thomas Kerwin, -hatchman, said that he had seen several slings break. Such accidents often happened, and, for this reason, mon should never stand under a sling. . To Mr. Von Haast: Though the sling broke tho load in this caso was a reasonable ono. '' . ' . Mr. Levi: Thero is nothing in the condition of this rope to show that it was worn out or not fit to bo used ? Witness : No. We have standing orders from the labour foreman not to •use any gear,,'either belonging to the ship or tho shore, that is at all doubtful. Mr. Levi;You have had considerable experience of this sort of work? —"Yes." Does this accidont suggest any want of caro on anybody's part?—" No. There is a man, belonging to the ship, who looks after tho men and gear in tho hold." Mr. Von Haast: You say there is a general order not to uso defective gear? Witness: Yes. - ' Is it part of your duty to overhaul tho gear?-^-"No."

If you saw any defectivo gear you would put it on one side?—" Yes." The man whoso duty it is to overhaul tho sling is tho sailor down the hold? — "I don't know whoso duty it is."

Tho sailors make tho slings?—" Yes." And they sometimes splice two pieces of l'ope,together?—"The slings aro always made out of new rope." Witness liere explained that, when a sling was.cut it was invariably thrown .aside. The only occasion that he had known of a damaged sling being repaired was when it was absolutely new—cut perhaps on the first day by a piece of iron. Slings for unloading superphosphates were apt to get rough, and did not last eo long as other slings.. ' Alfred Haywood stated that 'ho was winchman at the hatch where the accident occurred. The sling was about 40 feet from the bottom of the hold when the rope broke. He saw the bags wobble and then fall, and he at once called "Under!" as loud as ho could. The slings belonged to tho boat. To Mr. Von Haast: The rope seemed to break half-way between, the hook and the bags. Tq Mr. Levi: There was no jerk in raising the sling. He had had experience of ropes breaking in a similar way. Call Experts on Gear?

Senior-Sergeant Mullaney intimated that he would not call further evidence. - _ Mr. Levi asked permission to allow Captain Macartkur to give evidence as an expert on tho rope. Captain Macarthur was not connected with the Union Company. Mr. Fitzgibbons thought if it was desirable to call expert evidence they should call Government officers. He could call Mr. Forbes or Mr. Stewart, the official 'hemp graders at the port of Wellington. . Tho Magistrate: I do .not know that it is necessary to call experts. Mr. Fitzgibbon: Personally I do not think that there is any need for expert evidence. What I respectfully suggest is that you find that deceased met his death as tlie result of the sacks falling on him, while employed on tho s.s. Maitai. Proceedings may be taken later, apart from the Workers' Compensation Act, against the Union Steam Ship Company, and although any finding that you may make to-day would not interfere legally with any action which we may have to tako later, still thero is the great moral effect in your Worship's finding. So I ask that you find just tho actual cause of death, without going into the circumstances. Mr. Levi: We only got this expert on the suggestion of the police, and to prevent any suspicion that there was any negligence on the part of anyone.. Mr. Fitzgibbon: Yonr_ Worship has not to find whether tho U.S.S. Co. was negligent or not. ■ Mr. Von Haast took; up the same attitude. '' . Mr. Levi: If your Worship 'is of opinion that someouo is to blame, you are quite open to find that. • The Magistrate: I do not think that there was any uegligencc. If thero was it would bo in the rash act of tho unfortunate man in stepping out without looking up. Mr. Fitzgibbon: I suggest that it would bo unfair to find anything like that. Under the Coroners Act, Section 9, it is not necessary so to find. Tho Magistrate then said that he would first find the causo of death in tho ordinary way. Tho finding was that deceased accidentally met his death through fracture of the skull and laceration of the brain, caused by bags of superphosphates falling on him through a rope of the sling breaking.