"ONLY A SPOT ON THE MAP"

Evening Post, Volume 137, Issue CXI, 10 June 1926, Page 12

"ONLY A SPOT ON THE MAP"

BUT IT HAS LAWS

AMERICA AND THE LOAD-LI-NE,

By legislation of the New Zealand Parliament last year the fine to which vessels entering New Zealand ports with submerged load-line are liable was increased from £100 to £1000. This amendment, said the New Plymouth Magistrate recently, was made because the law was being defied by the masters of some oil vessels coming to Wellington, who found that it paid even if they were fined. That meant unfair competition for British vessels. " NOT AN OIL TANKER. The case before the Magistrate at New Plymouth was not that of an oil tanker but of an American schooner carrying timber, the four-masted schooner Margaret F. Sterling, which recently arrived at New Plymouth from Puget Sound. Captain John Lapping, the master, was prosecuted by the superintendent of mercantile marine in New Plymouth, under the Shipping and Seamen's Act, for bringing his vessel into port with the Plimsoll line submerged. Counsel for the prosecution stated, that it was found that on the port side the Plimsoll line was 24in under water. On the starboard side it was 9in. The measurements had been liberally taken, and any allowance possible given' to the master. A load-line certificate had been issued to this ship in London, when she was sailing under the name of Vancouver, and that line was still in existence. In regard to the penalty, counsel stated that in 1925 the maximum fine had been increased to £1000. This was because certain vessels from America had been defying the law, and the Marine Department looked upon the offence as serious. On behalf of defendant counsel said the latter was quite justifiably ignorant of the New Zealand law, as in America they had no similar law. The United States had refused to adopt the same standard as the British Act required, and that at least showed there were two sides to the question of the load-line. LUMBER LUGGER'S LICENCE. Counsel also pointed out that the certificate issued by the surveyor of ships, although not seating so in actual words, did in reality show that the load-line was submerged when she left Tecoma. One of the best proofs of the seaworthiness of the vessel was that Captain Lapping had safely navigated her to New Plymouth. Her cargo was lumber, and he was assured by tho captain that even with' her docks awash she would be a seaworthy vossel. All such vessels on the Pacific Coast of America sailed with their decks awash, and tho American authorities considered that a safe and reasonable position to take up.

In his evidence defendant explained that his ship was of a special type, built to carry timber on her decks, and she could not be profitably employed if she was not allowed to do so.

The Magistrate said that he intended to deal with the case in a similar way to that adopted by Mr. Page, S.M., in a test case. Ho therefore convicted-defendant and fined him £25, with costs amounting to £1 Bs. At the same time his Worship said that if there were other breaches of the kind fines would be fixed, so as to make it not worth while to do this sort of thing. The New Zealand law was fixed to mako ships safe, and it had to be observed. He did not suppose the New Zealand law was widely known in America, as tor the average American this country was only a spot on the map. But in spite of that the law was made for tho benefit of sailors as well as for tho protection of British trade, and it must be obeyed.