Non-replacement of Lachlan criticised

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32966, 12 July 1972, Page 18

Non-replacement of Lachlan criticised

The expenditure of “hundreds of thousands of dollars” to keep the survey ship Lachlan in service, and the procrastination of the Government in deciding on a new survey vessel, is criticised by the general secretary of the New Zealand Merchant Service Guild (Captain J. W. Dickinson) in his report to the guild’s annual meeting tomorrow.

“Ten years ago, Cabinet must have been advised by the then Chief of Naval Staff of the need for urgent action in ordering a replacement ship for the Lachlan, but the Government chose to ignore this advice and instead decided to keep the old lady in service, apparently irrespec-

tive of cost,” Captain Dickinson said.

“When a new ship is ultimately ordered, the cost will be infinitely greater than if the order had been placed in time to ensure that public funds were not dissipated on a major refit for the Lachlan,” he said. The dedication of the survey division in performing its essential service had always impressed members of the Merchant Navy, who were directly involved and dependent on the hydrographic branch for reliable surveys and modern charts.

“The guild is opposed to the ‘fighting services’ receiving priority year after year with little recognition being given to the hydrographer and his enthusiastic staff ” said Captain Dickinson. “We cannot help but feel that there are people in positions of influence who have failed to use that influence in convincing the Government of the folly of keeping a worn-out ship in service when a new vessel should be now working at a higher level of efficiency, at lower cost, and with considerably fewer staff on board, doing the same job on behalf of navigators,” he said.