A DISREGARDED CLAIM.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 282, 27 November 1919, Page 15

A DISREGARDED CLAIM.

ECHO OF YON -trCKNER'S ESCAPE. L.-o'B. TIMBER CO.'S PROTEST. An echo of the escape from Motuihi Island of the German naval officer, Lt. yon Luckner, was heard yesterday at a meeting of shareholders o"f the I.eylandO'Brien Timber Co.. owners of the scow Moa, which yon Luckner commandeered and used in his dash to the Kermadec Islands in December, 1917. It will be remembered that the Moa was on the way from Tauranga to Auckland, timberladen, when she was met hy a\ launch occupied by the escaping German prisonners, who held up the sailing ship, took charge of her. and set sail for tbe Pacific Islands, after having jettisoned the cargo. They were overhauled by the cable steamer Iris at Sunday Island and recaptured. Subsequently the owners of the scow Moa, which was recovered when the prisoners were re-taken, petitioned the Government for about £1500 compensation for loss occasioned to them by the incident, but Cabinet decided against the allowing of compensation. When the shareholders of the L.-08. Timber Co. held their annual meeting to-day Mr. George Elliot, the chairman, stated that the directors had been greatly disappointed by the Government's action in not recognising the claim for compensation. He believed the Attorney-General neld that the loss was occasioned by an '"act of war," but the fact remained "that the inquiries held after the recapture of the prisoners showed that the escape was tiie result of culpable negligence on the part of officers responsible for the safe keeping of war prisoners, and it followed that the loss to the company was the result of that negligence. He moved:— -That this annual meeting of shareholders of the L.-08. Company have heard with extreme surprise that their petition for compensation for loss sustained by the seizure of their vessel Moa by escaped German prisoners was after consideration by Cabinet of November 4 minuted 'No action.' This petition was recommended by the Public Petitions Committee for favourable consideration, which recommendation was confirmed by Parliament, and we strongly protest against the injustice of this company having to suffer loss through the culpable carelessness of the servants •}f the Government, as proved by the finding of the Court of Inquiry and subsequent court-martial, and respectfully a=k for a reconsideration of the petition."' The motion was seconded, and carried unanimously.