Safety of Life at Sea

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 189, 8 May 1931, Page 11

Safety of Life at Sea

Sir.—We have had many shipping disasters on the New Zealand coast, and unfortunately, the loss of life appears to have been greater than it need have been, had the individual circumstances been different. , . , What is being done in other parts of the world to protect human life at sear We have heard a great deal about the Lifeboat Institution and the wonderfully good work it does. We have heard also about unsinkable ships. We in New ea " land are.disposed to ask, by what means are we going to ensure greater safety for those who “go down to the sea in ships”? To our population we have more coastal vessels than the majority or countries, and it is extremely sad that so frequently a disaster occurs on our I suggest that in this country we should form a society, the object of wh‘™ is to provide'lifeboats near the ; main ports. In all probability, the shipping interests would not be averse to providing a little financial assistance, and 1 am quite sure the public would also- heartily support the scheme. 5 In addition to the above suggestion, is it not possible for all vesselsjo be provided with rocket apparatus to enable them to make contact with either another vessel or with the shore, in case of emergency? If some such appliances had been available when the Progress and the Tom were trying to make, contact, one would reasonably expect that no lives need have It is quite possible that instead, of the Progress, this present disaster might have overtaken one of the passenger-carrying boats, in which case the loss of life would have been appalling. Trusting that the Minister of and representatives of the shipping inter ests will call a meeting and take some steps to increase the safety of life at sea, -I am, etc., B.J.D. May 4.

Sir, —The lifeboat service in New Zealand waters is eo totally inadequate that if a vessel goes ashore in a storm the chances of rescue for those aboard her are very remote. , S If each of 100 men earned £2OO a-taece-that would be £20,000. One lifeboat costs £15,000, and would serve the whole of Cook Strait Balance that against tne loss in ships and property, the sadness and loss to - those left behind, and their anxiety aa to the future, not to mention the loss of the breadwinners, their earning, and spending capacity, which, means.toeat loss to communities to which sailors may belong • The sailors in British. and .New-Zea land ships are the finest in the World* and! surely, for the sake of the men and their dependants, the danger should be minimised as far as possible. It is a bad time as far as finances go, to approach the Government for money, for any object however worthy; but surely It is the most suitable time, when, a “to occurred with loss of life in its *™il, to point out the need for a good lifeboat w.rvice in New Zealand waters. I would lake to make a suggestion: Art unions have been, and are being, held for objects, the necessity of which is much less ffreat-. Then, why could not an art union be run to partly raise the necessary funds, the remainder of which to supply one or two boats, might be raised by asking the dependants. of sailors, ■■ sailors themselves, fishermen, and sympathisers, for one Shilling- (1/-) per head. These schemes I venture to say would meet with, the approval of nearly everyone, and it would not be long before the necessary funds- were in hand to supply this 1 am. etc.? NAUTILIUS. May 5. -