DANGEROUS CARGO

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3115, 20 June 1917, Page 5

DANGEROUS CARGO

NEW REGULATIONS COMING

The Minister of Marine is about to issue now regulations for tho protection of the lives of men working cargo on ships on our coast. Mr. Russell made a statement on tho subject to a reporter yesterday. During tho month of March, ho said, a man named Alfred Hayward met his death on a steamer at the Wellington Wharf in consequence of a defective hatch. As a result 'oli this, it has been determined that a new regulation shall bo brought out, providing that it shall bo tho duty of the master of every ship trading in New Zealand ports to appoint a seaman for each hatch, who will be responsible for the removal and replacement of tho hatches, in order to secure the safety of the waterside workers and the crew and others engaged on the ship. In May last an explosion of benzine occurred on the Union Company's steamer Arahura at Gisborne, and tho boatswain, a' fireman, and a steward were seriously injured, and had to l.e removed to the Gisborne Hospital. Ihe passengers sent to the Minister of Marino a memorial urging that special care should be taken to guard vessels under similar circumstances. The result is that a regulation is to bo issued to the effect that benzine and other inflammable oils must bo carried on deck, and not in any other part of the ship. A notice will be sent to the owners before the regulation comes into force, to enable them to make the necessary provision for the change.