WATERSIDE ACCIDENTS

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 136, 5 December 1918, Page 2

WATERSIDE ACCIDENTS

REGULATIONS IN SIGHT \ . ' An important.new section of the War Legislation and Statute Law Amendment Bill as it left the Legislative Council yesterday makes provision for bring"ing into operation the regulations promised by the Minister <of Marine (Hon. T. M. Wilford) for the' prevention of accidents on the waierfron't and on ships. The section empowers the Governor-Gen-erai-iri-C6uncil to make regulations : (a) Preventing the overloading of ships or the overcrowding of ships with- passengers ; (b) Providing for the inspection ana testing from" time to time by authorised persons of loading and discharging gear and appliances, and the prohibition of such as are not approved; (c) Prescribing with, respect to any class or classes\oj chains, Topes, hooks, or other appliances the maximum, weiglit or strain which they shall be deemed capable of bearing, and prohibiting the plicing; of greater strains; (d) Providing for .the effective. lightingof ships and whar*«4 while work is' iri progress; (c) Providing for the ventilation, cleansing, and disinfection of wharvei and ships; ' (I) .Prescribing all <swsh things as may be- deeitied. necessary with ,resp«<!t to harbour-tlights, buoys, beacons, and signals.; .-. •;./

' (g). Prescribing rules for determining thefqualincations of persons holding posw tlons sis' harbourmasters or acting aspilots; (h) Regulating all other matters relat-, ing to the protection of life and property in or on ships! wharves, or harbours, and providing for the safe navigation of all harbours, navigablo rivers,/and navigable lakea. General harbour regulations: made under this section shall be in force in all ports or harbours in New Zealand. When the Bill was received in the House of Representatives, • the Prime Minister said that the section in regard to waterside accidents was in accordance with the wishes of a committee of the, watetside workers' organisation.