LIMITS EXCEEDED

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1937, Page 6

LIMITS EXCEEDED

By Telegraph—Press Association.

OVERLOADING OF CARGO GEAR. FINES INFLICTED AT AUCKLAND.

Auckland, Last Night. The Superintendent of Marine Affairs to-day prosecuted Captain G. E. Fox and Captain Alexander Smith. The charge was that being persons engaged in cargo work, they permitted cargo gear to' be kaded beyond the point of safety. There was a further charge against Smith of using an iron ring which had nof been tested. Both defendants pleaded guilty, The prosecutor, Mr. V. N. Hubble, explained that the regulations were made under the Harbours Act for the safe working of cargo on wharves". In the case of Captain Fox a tractor weighing over 18 tons' was being lifted out of the Fort Denison on March 8 when it fell. Both slings and shackles were overloaded. This was not the cause of the tractor falling. It was due to the clutch in the winch gear slipping. One of the workers had a toe broken. One sling was overloaded by three and a half tons and the other by two and a half tons. The magistrate, Mr. C. R. Orr-Walker, said it was a question of safety of life, and any breach of the regulations was a serious matter . In both these cases the breach was not the cause of the accident, but nevertheless the cases were very serious. He could nat understand experienced men taking the risk when they knew how serious it was. Each was fined £5 and costs £2. On the second charge against Captain Smith he was ordered to pay £1 10s costs. . ,Uim H HIHI It III llHHtHIMIIMIMIIIIMItllll II tllllllllllli tllHIMO