DANGEROUS CARGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22717, 1 November 1935, Page 4

DANGEROUS CARGO

UNLOADING OF EXPLOSIVES DIRECT DISCHARGE AT PORT CHALMERS • DISCUSSION BY HARBOUR BOARD Despite many doubts and qualms, the Otago Harbour Board has decided to allow the landing of explosives direct ex ship at the Pert Chalmers wharves, subject to the implementing of the Government's undertaking to rush them straight through to the powder magazine at Wingatui. But it was a tedious business. Notwithstanding the fact that the chief inspector of explosives (Mr J. : Butchers) devoted a full three- . quarters of an hour to the task of explaining that such an arrangement would be in the best interests of the hoard and of prospective victims of an explosion disaster, the hoard had to spend almost an equal time making up its mind. The fact that the proposed new arrangement would involve less risk of accident than the present procedure appealed very little to some members of'-the hoard. It all arose as a result of'a notice of motion by Mr R. S. Thompson that the resolution rejecting an application for the landing ; of explosives direct at Port Chalmers should be rescinded. Generally it was regarded as extremely fortunate that Mr Butchers was in town, but after he had addressed the board for 25 minutes, answered questions for another 20, and had retired, there seemed to be innumerable points to he cleared up. . Mr J. W. Munro was very definite when he rose to second Mr Thompson's motion on the grounds that, haying heard Mr Butcherß, the board could not take any other course. Nor was he without supporters;' -■.'•' : . - "",'-■ . But' immediately ,Mr T.;'. Scollay, a resident of Port Chalmers,- bristled. He thought it would be. a. good idea to land explosives' at Victoria wharf, and on the; principlej that',"if there was to be an. explosion;-it ; might; just as well lie' at Duncdiri as at 1 Port Chalmers he pressed his point with' divers arguments. Mr D. P. H. Sharped was fearful, but 'for different reasons. '■'• He. was prepared to support the" Port phalmers with a variety of safeguards. t .'Actually he : placed his trust in special iroif trucks as opposed; to ordinary-wagons, some form of insurance j for the board, and the co'-ojjtirig of the Marine Department "to carry'them with us." .: # , Mr' F. Tyson: was :?a trifle; impatient. Here was Christchurch. getting all its supplies of explosives . from .the west through the Otira tunnel. Could they 'honestly compare the hazards of transport" over such a route with- conveyance from' Port Chalmers.: to.. Wingatui:? Mr Sharpe thought a -comparison existed; • Yes; it definitely existed. : Mr Copland attacked the problem from a different angle.; He had-supported the previous decision; of the board, and saw no reason why he should- change his opinion -no V- 'Why had the .-rest: of the board changed its views? - Mr f/Shaipe: Phi- just. a little pressure.-.•:']:' : r.'-v ,'..-. ~ ,■ ■ Continuing, Mr Copland said he wanted-to know who would be responsible- in '.+ thei event lot. an accident. He understood: that there had never - been an accident 'yet, but there might _be a disaster jvith \ the first ..shipment., What then?: Their solicitors said they were liable, so they must he liable. # Mr J. Preston admitted the soft impeachment and said" he had changed his mind. The old order was good enough for him as long as there no better way of -doing things. According to Mr Butchers there was a better way, so he. had changed his mind. Of course, their solicitors had told them that the board was liable in case of an accident if the explosives were unloaded direct at the Port Chalmers wharves. But had anyone bothered to ask whether they were liable under their present.system/ In'any case, solicitor or no solicitor he doubted whether any liability could be proved so long as the board took what the chief inspector of explosives regarded as the proper precautions. They had to get explosives and that was all there was; to it. ;; .•••_ ; , Mr Scollay, who had already spoken once and had been refused the floor on a couple of occasions, insisted at this stage on knowing whether the whole affair had not-been begun by ]Sobels in an endeavour to save landing costs. To this the secretary replied that the application had come in the first place from Nobel's representative, but that his letter had complained of cumbersome procedure and undue public risk from five handlings of the dangerous cargo before if reached the explosive dump. But even yet the discussion was not over. There were numerous and desultory references to wharves and insurances, licences for explosive workers ana liabilities, contingent, initial and potential, until Mr Tyson, in a voice weighed down with boredom, begged: --. "Put the motion,"Mr Chairman. ..

On a vote being taken the motion was carried. Mr Copland asked that the names in respect of the division be recorded, but was assured that the secretary knew who had voted and how.