LIFE-SAVING AT SEA.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 496, 1 May 1909, Page 6

LIFE-SAVING AT SEA.

• TE2JDES'COUNCIL AND MAKINE DEPAETMENT. Refemng-to allegations made at the Trades' Council as to the inspection of life-saving appliances. on board ship, Mr. G. Allport, Secretary of Marino, told a Doiroaox reporter yesterday wist wu3 a. surveyor a.t <xich port*.. Captain Stringer, who was tiie sur•veyor.. at Wellington, devoted practically lie itjiqlo q; his time to the . survey of fviiipe. in- ' oludjng, tho. esaimination > of; life-bedts,: buoys, boats, gear, and all life-saving appliances. Tho surveyors, .inchidmg; Captain Stringer, frequently 'mgao purpriso .visits to ships in. port. These surprise visits might not bo: heard much of, as.the surveyors naturally did not übdm beforehand, nor-tell «nybody who tyas not ccnocincd afterwards. A statement that a largo numrcr of belts were .stamped an ,<hk> occasion in a wholesale way, without being testedi was inoosrccct. 'Mr., Allpcet was ahsolutcly soro that no such thing hid occurred since tho appointment of Captain Stringer at the _ beginning, of last yeac,jfjiii la. considered. it most improbable that it had occurred under any officer who had occupied the position; It 'had also boaa sfcaicd -t£at the -Marino Superintendent was overworked; : Ihia apparently referred to 1 Captain Smith, generally described as. Ship-' ping Master, mil Captain Smith had made no-cpmplaint, though Mr. Allport iad spoken to 'liim about it that morning. He did not do any great amount of typo-writing, and He Aid. a clerk with Mm in his office. As far .as Jtfr. Allport could learn, there, waa.-jio ; goorter,