A WATERMAN IN TROUBLE.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13480, 27 July 1912, Page 6

A WATERMAN IN TROUBLE.

TEST CASE IN DUNEDIN

[United■ Pkess As;sov;iavion.J

Dunedin, July 26. Mr Widdowson, S.M., gave judgment* this morning in the case in which the owner of a motor launch of less than 40 feet, was charged with carrying passengers within river .limits, and did ply within river limits, in Otago harbour without carrying life-saving appliances as provided by the Shipping and Seamen's Act. Tho launch was not licensed to carry passengers. There was no evidence that the persons mentioned in tho charge were carried for hire.

Tlie Magistrate said the main question was as to the meaning of the word "plying?' and upheld the contention of counsel for the prosecution that "plying" as used under the Act imist.be read in a general sense, and that it mattered not that the launch made merely one trip. The defendant was convicted, but as it was a test case a penalty was not inflicted, defendant being ordered to pay costs.