ISLAND BOATS CAPSIZE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21805, 10 June 1936, Page 8

ISLAND BOATS CAPSIZE

Master and Owners

Blamed

FINDINGS OF COMMISSION

OF ENQUIRY

(PRESS ASSOfTATIOK TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, June 9. The Samoa correspondent of the United Press Association reports that the findings of the Commission of Enquiry into the loss of the motor-boat Tiafau on January 17 last have been made available. The Tiafau was upset while on an inter-island trip, and the passengers and crew were rescued after a perilous experience. A majority of the commission found that the causes of the accident were; (a) Insufficient ballast in comparison with the load carried on deck. (b) Ballast badly secured. (c) Want of expert seamanship on the part of the master, Hicks. The commission also found that those responsible for the safety of the vessel had not taken all necessary and reasonable steps to prevent a casualty, and that the owners and master of the Tiafau should be held responsible for the accident. It was recommended that a harbour committee should be set up to draw up rules and regulations regarding local craft with a view to preventing accidents to vessels at sea, and that in future only certificated Board of Trade officers should be allowed to handle vessels running on the ApiaPago Pago service. The owners and master of the Tiafau were ordered to contribute £3l 10s toward the cost of the enquiry. A minority report presented by the Hon. I. H. Carruthers attributed the wreck to an act of God, and made no recommendations.

A further enquiry will be held into the adequacy of the local shipping provisions and the safety of the present methods of transport by sea in home, inter-island and overseas trade.