THE LOSS OF THE WAIRUNA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 19, 17 October 1917, Page 6

THE LOSS OF THE WAIRUNA

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUIRY

ALIEN TRADERS CLOSELY CROSS-EXAMINED

, The following report (from the "New Zoaland Herald") of tho proceedings at the inquiry into the loss of the s.s. VVai- : Tuna, lias been passed by the Censor for publication):— I Tho investigation into the circum- I stances surrounding the supposed loss 1 ■of the Union Steam Ship Company's ' steamer Wairuna, which left Auckland i on May 31 last on a voyage from Auck- I land to .San-Francisco direct, and has 1 not since been heard of, was resumed I at the Magistrate's Court on October 5 j before Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., and Captains Reed and Adamson, nautical as- 1 eessors. Mr. Selwyn Mays represented the Marine Department, Mr. M'Vough appeared for tho Union Steam Ship Company, Mr. A. E. Skelton for the Federated Seamon's Union and relatives of ' certain members of the crew, and Mr. I'rendergasfc for the Auckland Merchant ' Service Guild. '

Charles Cornelius Plunket, Lloyd's surveyor, stated that on May 30 he surveyed the deck cargo of the Wairuna.and gave a certificate. Ho found the vessel .in a thoroughly seaworthy condition. He could not account for the loss of the ves-

sel, owing to the ordinary perils of tbe - sea. Ho knew of the establishment of a military guard on the Queen Street • Wharf on the land side, hilt there was at present no difficulty in getting 011 to the wharf from the harbour side, and he thought precautions should bo taken in this direction. He thought further precautions should be taken to safeguard . chips. He hud gone on board vessels at times with a handbag, but no attempt Lad ever been made to examine it, although he was not known to all the sentries. He thought all passengers' lugsage, without respect of persons, should be examined.

To Mr. M'Veagh: He thought that tho persons of all passengers or others allowed on the wharf or on the ship should be searched.

To Mr. Skelton: It would bo easy for anyone to board a ship at the wharf from a small boat alongside.

The Men Employed, Edward Stott, marine superintendent for the Union Steam Ship Company at the Port of Auckland, produced a list of the men emploved on the Wairuna at Dunedin, Lyttelton, and Wellington, the ship's stores list and a list of the officers and crew. Witness knew all the officers cn the Wairuna, and he had full confidence in their ability as navigators. Ho did not ■ think the ship was lost by any perils of tho sea. The precautions now taken to safeguard vessels in port included the stationing of a man at the gangway day and night. Care was also taken not to employ enemy aliens, either ashore or afloat. Men engaged on ships had to bo approved by the Government shipping master. He thought more care should be shown by the military guard at 'the wharf in the examination of ■ parcels taken on to the wharf. He also -.nought that all cargo should be packed nnder the supervision of a Government officer. He would impose the same conditions on passengers' luggage. The lesfcimated .value of the ship was ,£125,000. Witness left Auckland for the Cook Islands five days after the Wairuna. Tho weather lie experienced, both- going and returning, was moderate to fine.

Captain G. 6. Robinson, assistant .Wharfinger for the Union Company at Auckland, said he was in general charge cf the loading. Every worker of military age had to snow his certificate, and the I>olice had given warning of any undesirable characters. No examination was made of the cargo. A sailor was cn guard in each hold, but nothing else waa done to prevent any interference with the cargo. The'hatches were closed as Boon as work was completed. Witness produced a list of .all those working on the vessel. He agreed with other witnesses that cargo should be loaded under supervision, and that passengers' luggage should be examined and the alleged owner identified.

E. D. lies, assistant wharfinger for tho Union Company, who was in charge ot the coaling of the Wairuna on the last day, produced a list of the men employed in coaling tho vessoi. Witness took the same precautions to ensure getting reliable men as the last witness.

To Mr. Skelton: The police notified the company of undosirablea from time to timo, and he kept the list. There were about 12 names on his list. Witness iknew his workers personalis. Tho last man and the third from the last on his list of men who had worked tho coal were men whom ho was satisfied were Reliable. Witness took no steps to identify a man with his registration card. A lnan could uso another's card. Witness agreed that everything should be done to check tho identity of workers.

H. E. Morrow, labour foreman for tho Union Company, said lie engaged the labour, for discharging the Wairuna's cargo. He produced a list of his men, most of whom ho knew well. Ho was guided by police reports when selecting men. The officers of the ship supplied men to watch the holds. The cargo was loaded just as it was received—without examination. If a waterside worker went on the vessel with a parcel ho would be questioned as to its contents. To- Mr.- Skelton: Some transhipments Wore waiting for the Wairuna at another wharf when she arrived. Some cargo was loaded from the shed, and other was loaded from the carts direct. Mono of it was examined. His assistants knew the undesirables as well as lie did, but he did not 6upply them with any list.

To Mr. M'Veagh: Some of the undesirables were still employed in loading carts. Occasionally witness employed these men if he was short of labour, but none was employed on the Wairuna. Leonard A. Batchelder. attorney for Gillespie and Sons, gum merchants, Auckland, said his firm sent a large consignment of gum to New York by the Wairuna. Gum was always regarded as one of tho safest of cargo. No special precautions wore taken when the gum was packed, but the firm's employees.were old and trusted servants. Casual labour was never used for packing gum, but was sometimes utilised for unloading carts. •At night the premises were always carefully secured. Every employee was British. Witness was not of British nationality. Witness did not think anyone ot enemy nationality should be allowed to export cargo from New Zealand, except under supervision. The firm's shipments Were always insured in America. To Air. Skelton: At the outbreak of tho war witness did not actually question the employees' antecedents, but from his knowledge of them he was satisfied they .were British,

Alien Merchants Examined. Louis Arnoldson, a member and director oi tlie firm o£ Lichtenstein, Arnoldson and Co., gum merchants, said his firm shipped gum by the Wairuna. It was ! consigned to the British Consul at New York, but the ultimate consignees were IClipstein and Co., New Yor'- For a i -while his Ann (ras on the British "black 1 list." Mr. Mays: How many partners m your firm are aliens?—" None." Mr. Jfays: What about Mr. Lichtengtein?—"tie is not an alien." •Mr. Mays: Was he not born in Memel? •-"No; he Vis born : n Russia." . ■ Mr. Mays: This book savs differently, and it is "apparently written by himself. J,isten to this: "Mr. Lichtcnstein was fcorn at Memel, in North Germany, in 1874. He is a. son of Dr. Joseph Lichtenslein, of that city, and wns educated for the nwlical profession."—"! can't bilp the book, b" w born in Russia at n place called ICamel." ■ Witness went on to say (he members : 0 f the firm camo from the same- town i in "Russia, and wore all related. Taking the "New Zealand Rncycln•pedin" to witness. Mr. Mays said, point--1 in<» tp a puraifniph: Who supplied this? __"r kiir-'-: tbo o'lit-ir. T siinnnsn."

Mr. Mavs: T>irl anybody else know nil "Mr. Lichtenstein might havo known. T did not." _ Air. jr.iv?: Hp is ynnr cousin P— Yes. Max Lichlcnstein," a moniber of the gn'm? firm, faifl his firm al c n sent gum the Wairnna consigned to TClipstein

and Co. He believed one membor of that firm was of German birth. Witness wa9 born in Russia, of Russian parentnge. Mr. Maya: Have you over made a statement to the contrary?—"l'll answer no questions as to what I said 20 years ago.' Mr. Mays: 'Why?—"l don't follow you." Mr. Mays: About 1903 did you make tho statements contained in this book?— "No." Mr. Mays: Who did then?—" The editor, I suppose." Mr. Mays: How could ho know this? How could he know that your father was named Joseph?—" That was not his name."

Mr. Mays: Wero you educated for the medical profession ?—"Yes." Mr. Mays: Did you "desire to see tho world" in 1903?—" I got out of Russia to escape military service." Mr. Mays: You wont to the U.S.A.?— "Yes."

Mr. Mays: Ton visited Brisbane?— "Mo, never in my life." Witness: But is this the Wairuna inquiry ? Mr. Mays: Yes. we wont to know if Germans shipped goods by the vessel. Witness said he denied absolutely that any of his firm was German. He tupplied no information to the Encyclopaedia, nor, so far as 110 know, did his cousin. Ho could not say what person in New Zealand knew as much about him as was printed in tho book. Witness had never been to Memel. Werner Langguth, a gum merchant, said he was carrying on the business formerly conducted by his father. Several lines of sum. vrero chipped to New York by the Wairuna. Witness did not employ anybody of enemy nationality. So far as packing was concerned, he left it to his foreman, whom he trusted. The Customs officers could inspect his store at any time. L. U. Maxwell, gum merchant, expressed the view that better precautions should be taken in supervising the loading of cargo. He took no special precautions himself, as all were Britishers in his store. Assuming satisfactory precaution could be taken, lie saw no objection to dividing tho cost botween the ship, the shipper, the insurer, the consignee, and tho Government.

Judgment and Recommendations. Tltv judgment of the Court, which found that the steamer had met her fate I as the result of enemy activities, was published in . The Dominion a few days ago. By way' 1 of recapitulation, the following conclusions aro summarised:— In view of the evidence given at this inquiry (stated the Court), we make the following recommendations for serious and urgent consideration by the Government:— 1. That stricter precautions be taken to prevent tho approach of unauthorised persons to vessels and wharves. li. That stricter precautions be taken to prevent undesirable men being employed on vessels and wharves. 3. That firms having members of alien enemy nationality be not permitted to ship goods. i. That all persons going on board vessels bo searched, and all luggage to be taken on to vessels be examined. 5. That all cargo for shipment be packed under Government supervision, and lie retained thereafter under control until shipped. 6. That if there are cases where compliance with iho immediately preceding recommendation is not practicable, in such cases the packages be in Government control for an indefinite time before shipment.