THE WIMMERA LOSS

Evening Star, Issue 16783, 11 July 1918, Page 4

THE WIMMERA LOSS

A PASSENGER'S CRITICISM. Pross Atsoeiatioxi —By Telegraph—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. SYDNEY, July 10. Mr W. F. Sedgebeer, a survivor from the Wimmera. ( in a Press int.-rvie-.v expresses tho opinion, that only persona -having legitimate business should bo allowed to travel either on the Australian coast or across tho • Pacific in war time. On his trip, both to New Zealand and returning' to Australia-, the majority of the su'ocn passengers were old wen and women and children. Quite a number of passengers were goinir to New Zealand to see whether Desert Gold or Biplane was tho faster animal. He considers it little short of scandalous that persons un->ble to look after themselves in Ihe event of accident are allowed to travel on sea wnen l-aeir only object is pleasure. Tn view of his experiences on the Wiramera, Mr Sedeebeei- suggests that all exits in' ships should be lighted similar to theatres, as under the -existing conditions, as soon as the engine room is Hooded the ship is thrown into darkness: also that n ■■ soon as a vessel reaches its destination the lifeboat should be thoroughly overhauled. He alleces that a boat he had to take to when the accident happened carried no chocolate, and the- water was vitv brackish. Yalunhle time wr.s lost knock mt: wooden cover- from the liieboat-s. Jle ;d- ---| ways understood that the covers had to be ■ removed as soon as the ship sailed. i Mr Sedgebeer also makes complaint with ■ respect- to tho fr.atmenf the pa'-:e.n,,et:-i received in Auckland at the hnndfl of ! official 3.