THE DREDGE MANCHESTER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 317, 5 July 1912, Page 5

THE DREDGE MANCHESTER

SYDNEY HARBOR TRUST'S GENEROSITY. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Mr. P. J, O'Regan, to whom the Seamen's Union referred the question of the liability of the Sydney Harbor Trust to pay compensation to the dependants of the men who were lost in the dredge Manchester, replied that inasmuch as the registry of the vessel was changed in March last from New Zealand to New South Wales, she was not at the date of the'wreck a New Zealand ship within the meaning of seetion 2 of the Workers' Compensation Act. 1908, and hence that there was no liability under that Act. Simultaneously with this advice, however, the Seamen's Union learned that the owners would nevertheless pay r-ompensation in accordance with the New Zealand law. In consequence of this generous behaviour of the Sydney Harbor Trust the dependants of the <irew will be paid compensation subject to proof of the extent of dependency. The Seamen's Union Iras instructed Mr. ft'Regan and Mr. Dix to act for the relatives of all the members of the crew who were members of that body, and information is now being collected with a view to the claims of those entitled. As some of the relatives are in the United Kingdom the inquiry will in their case take a considerable time. In the meantime, mainly through the courtesy of Captain Mareiel, marine superintendent of Lyttelton. most of the relatives have been traced. So for the Harbor Trust lias not intimated the name of any New Zealand representative to act for them, but an announcement in this connection is expected shortly. Anyone possessing information, as to the whereabouts of the relatives would assist materially by communicating cither with the Seamen's XJmon or with the solicitors who iare ficting for the union. is