The Press. SATURDAY, JULY 6. 1907. INFLAMMABLE CARGOES.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12849, 6 July 1907, Page 8

The Press. SATURDAY, JULY 6. 1907. INFLAMMABLE CARGOES.

Tho Royal Commission on fires in ships' cargoes of wool, flax and tow has presented its final report, tho substance of which we print to-day. Tho Commission was appointed on August 2nd, 190 C. During ecrcral months previous to that date thoro had been a series of destructive fires on ships carrying wool, flax and tow from New Zealand to English ports, and it was considered desirable to investigate tho oaueee of such outbreaks and apply any remedies that might bo practicable and effective. The Commiseion consisted of Dr. McAirthur, the Wellington Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr Walter G. Foster, manager of tho Assets Realisation Board, and Captain H. S. Blackbtirne, nautical adviser to tho Majino Department. The Commission, having taken a quantity of evidenoe, submitted an interim report, dated October 12th, 190G, in which they stated, in confirmation of views already generally held, that fires in wool wore liable to lxs caused by spontaneous combustion, duo to the presence of moisture. They added that they had been unable to arrive at any conclusion as to the amount of moisture required to set up such a condition, and they did not express any opinion on the origin of fires in flax and tow. They considered that it would bo necessary to consult experts on the cihemical and bacteriological questions involved in the whole euibject, and they therefore wished, before they presented a final report, to consult Dr. Mason, Chief Health Officer for the colony, Dr. J. S. Maclaurin, Government Analyst, and 'Messrs J. A. Gilruth and B. C. Aston, of the scientific staff of the Agricultural Department. They had also arranged for experiments to be made to test the possibilities of spontaneous combustion in various grades of tho materials named in their order of reference, and they were expecting information from the High , Commissioner in London in regard to official or other reports on fires in cargoes of wool and flax carried by ships arriving at English ports. As far as tho causes of the fires in wool aro concerned the Commissioners' further investigations confirm tiheir previous opinion that spontaneous combustion does tako place, but they hold that many of the fires have had an extraneous origin. In regard to«flax and tow they now find that the weight of evidence is against tho probability of spontaneous combustion, the highly inflammable nature of these materials rendering them peculiarly liable to fires from other causes.

The romedies proposed by the Commission are mainly matters of inspection and packing. The report of October last stated that the evidence showed that, for a poriod of several years, ending June, 1905, the underwriters doing business in insuring wool for shipment from the colony employed competent surveyors to inspect any wool which eeemed to be in such a condition as might lead to a claim upon the insurers. These inspectors wero stationed at the principal ports, and, assisted as they wero by the officials of the Harbour Boards and shipping companies, who brought suspici-ous-looking bales under their notice, they ascertained in many instances that wool was unfit for shipment, and it was accordingly sent back for re-con-ditioning or re-scouring. It appeared to tho Commissioners ihat thie system of inspection had worked satisfactorily, and that while it was in force no serious outbreaks of fir* in tli© wool had occurred. "In June, 1905," the report continued, "apparently through the in " ability of tho Underwriters' Associa " tion of Xew Zealand to como to an "amicable arrangement with Lloyd's " as to tho allocation of the cost of the " inspection heretofore carried out, anil "which involved an expenditure of "somo £2000 per annum by the Under"wrifers' Association of New Zealand. " tho cervices of tho inspectors were "dispensed with at all centres." Wo understand that the insurance companies, being thus left to make their own arrangements, some of them now omploy inspectors on their own accqunt to safeguard their interests as far as possible, but there is a lack of united action." The Commissioners recommended laet year that provision ehoul.l be made for appointing inspectors, who should inspect all wool before shipment, withhold all that was unfit to go forward, give directions for dealing with it, and prosecute breakers of the law in this matter. They mentioned that Section 221 of the Shipping and Seamen Act, 1903, mado it a penal offence to ship wool, flax, tow, or skins, in euch a condition, that owing to dnmpncee'or other causes, spontaneous combustion was likely to occur, but tliey pointed out thaj this provision was defective, inasmuch as nobody was specifically authorised to prosecute of fenders. They reoomniended that the cost of inspection should be borno by tho owners of tho wool, through tho medium of a charge on every balo oxportod. The final report of tho Cdmrcission proposes that sheepskins and tow should be inspected under the. same conditions as thos© noted above in connection with wool, and tho other recomniendatioue aro concerned with precautionary measures in connection with.

packing and marking of bales, stowage on board chip, and the provision of fire extinguishing apparatus. It is remarkable that none of these fires on ships laden with New Zealand wool, flax, or tow have occurred durii: ; the last few months, and therefore the matter may seem, to a superficial observer, to have lost some of its urgency. It should be remembered, however, that owing to tho so-called drought, which prevailed during the early months of the. present year, there was in most cases no difficulty in shipping tho wool in a thoroughly dry condition. Tho preceding season was rainy, and the Commission considered that the high prices then ruling induced owners of wool to ship it with more hast© than was consistent with proper caution as to ite condition. The recent absence of fires in flax and tow cargoes is due, we suppose, to greater care being used as a result of tho warnings of experience. Tho findings of tho Commission will, of course, bo discussed and criticised by practical men in Parliament, but we should think thero need not be much delay in making them a basis of legislation.