Small Craft Safety Rules

Northern Advocate, 20 July 1949, Page 5

Small Craft Safety Rules

WELLINGTON. Wed. (P.A.t— The Minister of Marine (Mr Hackell) said today that he had directed the Secretary of Marine to take no further action about the proposed rules for small craft.

The idea of the proposed rules was to obviate as far as possible Ihe necessity for extensive and expensive searches for small craft. “Recently.” said the Minister, “a meeting was held with representatives of the four major provincial yachting associations, as a result of which the proposals were cut down to a minimum, dealing with three fundamentals which would apply only to small craft proceeding virtually into home trade waters.

“These requirements were: "ill Minimum equipment. "(2) A seaworthiness certificate, to be issued by a club official. “(3) An obligation to notify the destination to a club official or officer of the Marine Department. REPUGNANT JO SOME

"Apparently, however, even such rules as would incorporate only these three fundamentals are repugnant ”to members of some clubs and, realising that most yaching clubs do discipline their members against taking unnecessary risks, I have decided to take no further action in regard to statutory rules for these craft.”

The Minister suggested that yachting and motor-boat clubs might well incorporate these fundamentals in their own rules.

The organisation for air-sea rescue would be brought into operation immediately there was any hint of tragedy or casualty with small craft, as had been done in the past.