THE PLIMSOLL MARK

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12042, 21 January 1925, Page 6

THE PLIMSOLL MARK

•.SHREVEPORT OFFENDS AGAIN. MASTER’ FINED £loo' AND COSTS. A fifie of £IOO. and costs', was yesterday imposed l , upon W. A. Hutchins, master of the American steamer Shreveport, who appeared at the Magistrate’s Court charged with arriving with his ship so foaded as to submerge ini.salt water the centre disoindicating the load line. Mb' E.' ‘Page, 6.M., occupied the bench. The defendant was represented by Mr H. F. O’Leary. Mr JPrenoeville, appeared for thp Marine Department. This was the - third, time the ship had been here, under similar conditions. Said Mr. PrerjdeviUe. The ftjrst time the master was warned,- and he 'was. fined the second 'firr.e. ' On this occasion the load line was 20i inches_be-! low waiter level, and on the previous occasion’it'was 18 inches below. It, might be, submitted in mitigation that' defendant did not know the decision of the court as he was not in the Dominion at the time.- However, it was. his duty to find out, or his agents here were responsible for informing, him. Counsel was instructed by the j ment .to press for the maximum penalty. - . .

Pleading 'guilty to the' chaiga "Mr O’Leary said-that the previous cjse was heard here on November 27th and, decision was reserved. The vessel left the following day for California and arrived back on Sunday last. Judgment in the last casq was given on December 17th. -■■ The result of the decision Was immediately rubied to the owners in ’New York; who informed the master at San 'Luis, California, where the’ship'was lying. She had, however,- hlpeady been loaded, which fact must bdiaiken into consideration in regard to mitigation of penalty. Imposing: the above penalty the magistrate remarked that the offence called, for a substantial fine. j