PROTECTING SHIPPING

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 80, 28 December 1940, Page 5

PROTECTING SHIPPING

Continuous Patrols Asked For SYDNEY, December 21. A deputation from the Maritime Transport Council asked the Minister for the Navy, Mr. Hughes, yesterday to arrange for merchant shipping to be protected by continuous air patrol and minesweeping operations, The deputation, which expressed concern at recent, sinkings of ships in Australian waters, consisted of representatives of the Merchant Service Guild, the Marine Engineers’ Institute, the Professional Radio Employees’ Association, the 'Seamen’s Union of Australasia, the Waterside Workers’ Federation, Sydney Coal Lumpers’ Union, the Ship Painters’ and Dockers’ Union, and the Marine Cooks’ Union. It was introduced by Mr. Beasley, M.P. The deputation claimed that merchant seamen now engaged l on certain vessels taken over by tlie Naval authorities, while working longer hours, were earning less than that received by the men in the normal peace-time trade of each particular ship. A request was also made that seamen employed in the hospital ship Manunda be paid a war bonus while working overtime in war zones. It was also urged that action be taken to ensure the safety of seamen on ships which were torpedoed or sunk by mines by providing rafts for these ships and placing lifebelts where they were easily accessible and by installing modern equipment to ensure that lifeboats could be launched 1 without delay.

Mr. Hughes said that he would discuss with the Minister for Commerce, Sir Earle Page, a request that safety measures be introduced for the loading and unloading of cargo. He said that minesweeping was being carried out continuously in sea lanes, and instructions had been issued that all merchant vessels be fitted with •paravanes. This would reduce the risk from mines to negligible point. He promised that he would give attention to tlie other matters raised by the deputation wihout delay.