OIL DISCHARGED INTO HARBOUR

Southland Times, Issue 23166, 6 April 1937, Page 8

OIL DISCHARGED INTO HARBOUR

MASTER OF SHIP CONVICTED CAUSED BY A LEAKY VALVE (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, April 5. Prosecuted by the Auckland Harbour Board under the Oil in Territorial Waters Act for allowing oil to be discharged into the harbour, John Joseph Reed, master of the motor-ship Ridley, appeared before Mr Wyvern Wilson S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court. Mr J. McVeagh who appeared for the Harbour Board, said that on March 31 an officer of the board observed oil being discharged from the Ridley. He drew the attention of the third officer to it and the engine room was notified at once, while steps were taken to check the oil. The Harbour Board had incurred charges amounting to £3 in clearing away the oil. The prosecution is brought under the Oil in Territorial. Waters Act and the legislature views the - offence as serious, said Mr McVeagh. “It is very important in the interests of shipping that steps should be taken to prevent any escape of oil into the waters of a harbour. Mr W. H. Cocker, for the defendant, said the episode was purely accidental. The bilge had collected water which seeped through from the propeller shaft and brought oil with it. There was no danger of fire as the oil was of a heavy type which would burn only under pressure. “The indiscriminate or careless discharge of oil in territorial waters is a very serious matter for, apart from the risk of fire within the harbour limits, there is the cruelty inflected on the birds that infest the coast and the injury to fishing,” said the Magistrate. He added that the circumstances in this case, however, were not serious, and it was an unforeseen and accidental discharge caused by a leaky valve discharging into the bilge. It would be sufficient to enter a conviction and he ordered defendant to pay the full costs of the Harbour Board and the expenses of cleaning the harbour. The amount would be £5 5/-, solicitors’ fees and £3.