SAFETY FIRST

Evening Star, Issue 19697, 26 October 1927, Page 4

SAFETY FIRST

TWO MEM OH LAUNCH

[From Ova I'ihi.tamextaut Kbpoetbr.]

WELLINGTON, Or lube i‘ I’b. Settlors in the jNeLson district whoso produce is transported by launch recently petitioned Parliament asking for relief from the Marine Department regulations requiring two experienced men to bo in charge «1 launches transporting cargo, it being represented that this increased the cost ot transport. The Public Petitions Committee reported to-day recommending the question to the attention of the Government. •‘This leaves it where it was’’ commented the Minister of Marine (Mr Anderson), who proceeded.to deal with the general aspect of the salciy of oil launches. Experience had shown, lie said, that where petrol launches were in use, it was necessary to have two experienced men on board, who were conversant with the machinery, and who could sad the launch if anything went wrong. He supposed that Auckland Harbor was one of the safest, just as good as Nelson const, yet a man recently took out a launch from Auckland, and that was the last heard of it. Fortunately for the Marine Department, the man owned this launch. There was nothing in flic law to prevent anyone taking his own boat whore he liked, so long as ho did not transport goods or passengers for hire. The experience! ol tho Marine Department’s officers over a. long period showed that it was not safe to allow- these launches to go to sea. with only one experienced man aboard. There was an ox-ample in Auckland Harbor recently, where the engine of a launch went wrong, and while the only experienced man in charge Was looking to the onginh, a ferry boat ran down tho launch. He had discussed tho difficulty with Hie Nelson people, and showed reports on tide subject, to the chairman of the comity council, asking hini what: ho would do under similar circtfinstarices in, view of the expert opinion. The reply was that the Minister could; do nothing else than carry out the regulation. This desire to run launches with one man was common throughout New Zealand, hut in face of expcricnco it could not bo allowed.