SAILING CRAFT ACCIDENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 117, 17 May 1906, Page 3

SAILING CRAFT ACCIDENTS.

SUGGESTED SUPERVISION OF. PLANS AND CONSTRUCTION. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.} WELLINGTON, this day. j Dealing with accidents to sailing I crafts, >u\ John Hutcheson., ex MH R° ! infonnod a -Post" reporter that he had j written to the Premier some time a»o 1 strongly advising him in a private and ; friendly way to secure the services of a I first-class naval architect to watch over the construction of sailing craft, and supervise vessels in commission as to their stability and seaworthiness. An this letter Mr. Hutcheson gave the following reasons for his proposal: (1) I That ih.e plans and specifications of all vessels proposed to be built in the colony shall be submitted to a proper auj thority in order that the Government may be satisfied as to (a) the stability and fb) the structural strength of such vc3.*"Ls when built: (2) that the plans j and spceiikwtions of oil alterations to ! superstructure likely to affect stability J should be referred to the same authoriiy. (3) to nid by his expert advice iind guide the present inspectors of hulls and equipment in the matter of larger repairs, also in the accurate measurement of tonnage for registration, etc: and (4) generally to foster shipbuilding in New Zealand by giving proper scientific tone and bias and encouragement to an industry that surely is proper to an insular people such as ourselves. Touching on accidents which have occurred to scows. Mr. Hutcheson maintained that no one but a trained naval architect was competent to demonstrate j from an examination of the plans whel ther the vessels built in accordance -witH I them would be stable or not. He said that there is a class of vessal. and -a numerous one—non-passenger craft—in which, with every respect for the capable men who are doinf the duty of inspection, in respect of J which the conditions' are far from satisfactory, if the Government grot the right man out from Home they would find him a~ tower of strength and support to the Government, and a boon to the shipping and shipbuilding interests of the colony. The Premier, in reply, thanked Mr. Hutcheson for his letter, and stated that it had b?en sent on to the Minister for Marine. The Hon. Mr. Hall-Tones replied that. ! the subject would receive full eonsideraj tion when any amendments to the I and Seamen Act. 1003.. are ; being dealt with.