LOSS OF THE KOTITI.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20382, 31 October 1931, Page 14

LOSS OF THE KOTITI.

REQUEST REPEATED FOR ENQUIRY. e&xa* &SSOCUTIOY TZt-IGBAUJ WELLINGTON, October 30. When the vote for the Marine Department was under consideration i!n the. House of Representatives this afternoon, Mr P. Fraser (Lab., Wellington Central) referred to the loss of the Kotiti and said the Department apparently took up the attitude that because there were no survivors, no good purpose could be served by holding an enquiry. He considered that an attempt should bo made to ascertain .whether there were any prior causes of the disaster. It was possible, for instance, that the loss of the ship occurred through the overstraining of the small crew employed. Mr H. E. Holland (Leader of the Opposition) said there was a general impression that the ship had not been fit to go to sea. It should be possible to get officials of the. Marine and Customs Departments to give evidence as to her condition. He submitted that the Minister should use his power to compel vessels of the kind to carry wireless. If this were done it would at least be possible for people ashore to know what was happening. There should also be' some line of action to determine whether ships so small as the Kotiti should carry passengers. He atked the Minister to agree to set up a tribunal with full power to take evidence from marine surveyors and others with regard to the Kotiti and other ships that might be similarly placed. It was fairly clear now; that the Kotiti had been lost, but steps should be taken to prevent a similar disaster. The Hon. J. G. Cobbe said the Government would be prepared to consider any fresh evidence that might be submitted, and then decide whether an enquiry were necessary. Mr Fraser asked whether the Kotiti had been examined after she had been altered to an oil-burning vessel. He suggested that the cargo space had been very giuch extended and, generally speaking, the structure had been weakened. Mr Cobbe said a survey had been made at the time the alterations were being effected, and the vessel had been strengthened.