ECONOMY ACTION

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1931, Page 7

ECONOMY ACTION

HARBOURMASTER WITHDRAWN. AUCKLAND, June 12. Criticism of a proposal to remove the harbourmaster and abolish signalling services at Hokian.ga has been made by various' firms and associations interested. Captain B._ Burk, secretary of the Auckland Merchant Service Guild, today sent the following telegram to the -Minister of Marine: “Auckland Merchant Service Guild makes emphatic protest against withdrawal of the harbourmaster at Ilokianga. The flokianga bar is considered by masters to be the most dangerous in New Zealand, and requires constant supervision by the competent man, in order to be negotiated with any confidence. No consideration of economy can justify the action, which may re suit in the sacrificing of seamen’s lives. Your Government will be held responsible for any disaster which may occur.”

“The official who ordered that should be sentenced to cross Hokianga. bar twice a week for the rest of his life,” was the comment of Mr T. F. Anderson, secretary of the Seamen’s Union. He also sent a wire to the Minister of Marine in the same strain as that of the Merchant Service Guild. It reads:

“You pannot expect to escape personal responsibility if a disaster occurs on the notoriously dangerous Hokianga bar through the discontinuation of an essential signal service. Such economy amounts to> juggling with sea,men’s lives.”