SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 163, 11 June 1926, Page 10

SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA.

MANY DEFECTIVE BOATS. CONFERENCE TO BE HELD. LONDON, April 21. A number of important subjects were discussed at the International Shipping Conference in London. The question of life-saving appliances was dealt with by Sir Norman Hdl (Great Britain), who said that at an international convention of Government representatives it was laid down that ships must carry sufficient boats to accommodate all the passengers aboard. It did not matter if the boats were effective or not, where they were placed on board, or whether the only result of having them was to crush people. A committee of the conference urged that only effective boats and light handy rafts, the effectiveness of which had been proved over and.over again during the warf should bo placed on board. The. Board of Trade had accepted the principle, but then violated it by ordering that if the “effective” boats did not give accommodation for 75 per cent, of the people on board more boats must bo carried. It was a monstrous and ridiculous condition. A comprehensive draft resolution dealing with matters affecting the safety of life at sea, proposed by Dr. Kiep (Germany) was passed unanimously. The resolution noted among other things that the conference reaffirmed a desire for an early diplomatic conference to revise the convention on safety of life at sea, and noticed with satisfaction that the British Government hoped shortly to call such a conference. The need for ample representation of shipowners and technical experts was urged. The resolution further noted with alarm the increasing practice of sending out the distress signal in circumstances which, do not warrant its use, and called upon all Governments to co-operate “in immediately checking this dangerous abuse.”