OVERCROWDING A STEAMER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4670, 14 June 1893, Page 2

OVERCROWDING A STEAMER.

* A Fin© of £5 Inflicted. At the Christchurch Resident Magistrate'a Court to-day Mr E. Beetham, 8.8f.,---gave judgment in the oaße against Captain Allman, master of the Union Steamship Company's steamer f&otomahana, of carrying in the saloon of the steamer five passengers in excess of the number allowed by the steamer's certificate, on a trip from Wellington to Lytfcelton on May 16 last. The case was heard last Thursday, when judgment was reserved. Mr Stringer appeared for the Collector of Customs, and Mr Nalder for defendant. The following is the judgment :— "In my opinion the defendant has committed an offence against the provisions oE the Shipping and Seamen's Act;. He baa received on board hie vessel five saloon passengers over and above the number allowed by his certificate. I think section 196 must be read with section 189 of the Acb. The limitation of the number of passengers to be carried in the different 'cabins is clearly contemplated by the Act and ia set forth in the certificate. It appears that a number o£ the saloon passengers were willing that they should be berthed in a portion of the steerage, a sort of Tom Tiddler's ground, which oould be used either for saloon or steerage passengers, as circumstances might require. Ido not see that a part o£ the vessel can be both saloon and steerage —it must be either one or the other. The chief steward says:—' There ia a large 24-berth cabin in the steerage which ib recognised as part of the steerage accommodation, but which we can use foe saloon passengers.' This settles the matter. There were more saloon passengers than the certificate allowed them to jarry, and some of the excess were berthed in the steerage. The excess of passengers so carried was five. The overcrowding ivas not serious, but the law has been >roken. Defendant is fined £5 and josts £1 Ba."