DISAPPEARANCE OF SCHOONER

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28792, 13 January 1959, Page 7

DISAPPEARANCE OF SCHOONER

Court Of Inquiry To Be Held

(N.Z Press Association—Copyright t (Rec. 10 30 p.m.) MELBOURNE. January 12.

Hong Kong authorities have been asked to convene a Court of Marine Inquiry into the disappearance of the Australian auxiliary schooner. lan Crouch, the Australian Minister for Shipping and Transport (Senator Shane Paltridge) kaid today. Senator Paltridge said the permanent head of his department and the Commonwealth Director of Navigation, who are at present in London, had consulted the British Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation. As a result, the Colonial Office had asked the Hong Kong authorities to convene the court at the earliest possible date. The lan Crouch, built in Hong Kong, has not been heard of since September 27, one day after it left Hong Kong on its maiden voyage to Adelaide. Senator Paltridge said the lan Crouch was within the jurisdiction of the Hong Kong authorities. Hong Kong was the only suitable "enue for the holding of a of marine inquiry. Evidence about its construction, equipment inspection, and seagoing trials were available only at Hong Kong. He said the Commonwealth Government would press for an exhaustive examination of the efforts made to locate the missing schooner.