VESTRIS REPORTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 December 1928, Page 7

VESTRIS REPORTS

EFFICIENCY OF OFFICERS DIFFERENCES IN OPINION (Australian Press Association.) (By Cable —Press Assn. —Copyright.) WASHINGTON, December 6. Mr McConkey submitted a report on the Vestris investigations before hearing which Commissioner Gill refused to advance a reason for the Vestris sinking, because of lack of time for a complete study, and the lack of facilities for gaining full information in the United States. Mr McConkey suggested that the findings of the United States group should be placed before the British Board of Trade. The report was carefully worded. He hesitated to blame the officers, and said they probably were under a great nervous strain. He said that the life-saving apparatus was of the approved type, and should have been able to cope with the situation but apparently they were not able to use it to full advantage. Captain Carey was a good captain, and “apparently had good reasons for ordering the lifeboats to be lowered on the port instead of the starboard side.” He completed the report with the suggestion that a qualified international commission make a complete study of the case and report. Mr Jessop, in a report, said he did not believe that Captain Carey and the First Engineer had control of the situation. Incompetency was one of the factors of the disaster. From a technical standpoint, Mr Jessop’s report is similar to that of Mr McConkey, with the exception that the latter praises the officers. Mr Jessop also criticised the officers for apparent dislike of the Federal investigation. He said that the pumps never apparently worked at more than 30 per cent, of their full capacity. He said: “A distress signal should have been sent out at least at four a.m. on the Monday.” He stated that the weather was definitely not a cause of the disaster, and that the ship was listing early and recovering slowly. He stressed the necessity for all ships to carry radio.