SHIPPING REGULATIONS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14329, 20 June 1917, Page 3

SHIPPING REGULATIONS.

BENZINE MUST BE CARRIED ON DECK. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. An important statement m regard to certain activities of the mercantile marine was made by the Minister for Marine yesterday afternoon. During tho month of March, he said, a man named Alfred Hayward, met his death on a steamer at Wellington wharf m consequence of a defective hatch. As the result of thi? it has been determined that a, new regulation shall be brought out providing that it be the duty of the master of every ship trading to New Zealand ports to appoint a seaman for each hatch who would be responsible for the removal and replacement of hatches m order to secure the safety of waterside workers, and the crew*,' and others engaged on the ship. In May last an e&ploskm of ben-sine occurred on the s.s. Arahura en route to Gisborne, and the boatswain, a fireman, and a steward were seriously injured, and had to be removed to .the Gisborne hospital. Tlie passengers sent to the Minister for Marine a memorial urging that special care be taken to guard vessels under similar circumstances. The result is that a. regulation is to be issued to the effect that benzine and other inflammable oils must be carried on deck and not m any other part of the ship. A notice will be sent to the owners before the regulation comes into force, to enable them to make the necessary provision for the change.