LOSSES OF SHIPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22166, 20 July 1935, Page 13

LOSSES OF SHIPS

BRITISH INVESTIGATIONS STEERING GEAR QUESTION (Received July 19, 6.5 p.m.) ' British Wireless RUGBY, July 18 Speaking on the Board of Trade vote in the House of Commons, the President of the board, Mr. Walter Ilunciman, mentioned the problem of the safety of lives at sea. He referred to the losses of the TJsworth, Blairgowrie, La Crescenta and Millpool. The Wreck Commissioner, Lord Merrivale, had completed inquiries into three of 'these cases, said Mr. Kunciman, and there was no reflection in his judgments on the Board of Trade, which had one of- the best technical staffs in the world.

There were four main points on which the Court had issued solemn (opinions, namely, steering gear, manning, surveys and the way they had been conducted, and entries in logs. Lord Merrivale believed the loss of the Usworth was due to the failure of the steering gear, and that her gear was of a kind which involved special risks. Mr. Runciman said that immediately he had heard this finding he had set up a strong committee to consider the types of main and auxiliary steering gear fitted on the Usworth and Blairgowrie. As soon as the Government had the committee's report, it would study it and> if necessary, act upon it,,