ACCIDENT WITH CRANE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23162, 7 October 1938, Page 16

ACCIDENT WITH CRANE

INVESTIGATION ORDERED LYTTELTON BOARD'S DECISION [BY TELECKAril —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday An inquiry into an accident at Lyttelton on Tuesday when tho Harbour Board crane was working on tho North German Lloyd vessel Dessau was decided on after long discussion at a meeting ,of tho Lyttolton Harbour Board. In the discussion several members claimed that an inquiry was necessary to reassure tho public about the safety of the board's gear. Tho board's engineer, Mr. P. W. Fryer, describing tho accident, said tho immediate causo was tho breaking of the ropes supporting tho moving ballast, which acted as a counterpoise at tile end of tho jib. Actually, the jib had just coasted down until the last few feet, when it had dropped. There wero limit switches attached to tho crano which came into operation just before the crane reached the end of its travel. This automatic switch appeared unfortunately to have been released.

Mr. It. E. Cairns, replying to the 'engineer's statement that tho jib had coasted down, said that from tho steamer Express, some distance away, ho had distinctly heard the crash. Mr. T. H. McCombs, M.P., said it seemed that tho safety device on tho crano had been put out of action for the snko of expediency. It might be desirable that the board investigate whether it was ever necessary to put tho safety device out of use. Mr. E. J. Howard, M.P., said that tho matter was certainly serious. He moved that a committee of inquiry bo sot up to investigate the whole of tho circumstances. His resolution was carried.