Stop Work As Protest Against Unsafe Gear

Northern Advocate, 28 April 1944, Page 2

Stop Work As Protest Against Unsafe Gear

<P.A.) WELLINGTON. Thursday. 'The deaUi of a watcrsider as a result of an accident on a Wellington wharf yesterday morning resulted m other members of the union refusing to work other ships as a protest against what they alleged to be unsafe equipment on the ships. The action of the men was taken without official approval of the union officials, but in a statement they. too. condemned the present, situation on the wharves and intimated that it was intended to make an immediate investigation. No informataion could be gained as to whether it was intended to extend

j the hold-up beyond yesterday afternoon. The accident occurred, it was stated, when the guy and preventer part of the gear of a derrick on an overseas ship carried away. The | derrick broke across a steel stay and i j the broken end struck the man. Wil- j liam MeCrae, 00. married, of Wells Street. Johnsonville. and pinned him! between the hatch combing andj winch. It was some time before the derrick j was lifted off him. a rope having to j be rigged and the derrick lifted by ; a winch. He was still alive while this wasj j being done, but died as soon as the! i derrick was moved. ; j Union officials point out that four|; j fatal acidenls have occurred within I j ! the past month and the accident rate! j has risen sharply during the year. |