MINISTER'S PROMISE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15565, 24 March 1914, Page 8

MINISTER'S PROMISE.

JGHTING OF THREE KINGS. SHIPMASTERS CONFER. TIRELESS COMPASS NOT WANTED. i representative meeting of members of lie Auckland Shipmasters' Union and Luckland Coastal Masters' Association as held in the Harbour Board rooms yesirday for the purpose of discussing the uggestion of the Minister for Marine (the lon. F. M. B. Fisher) that a wireless bmpass be installed on Three Kings. A esolution was adopted to the effect that first-class light and fog signal on the ummit of the Big King is the only atisfactory and acceptable scheme of larking the dangers of Three Kings, and bat the Minister for Marine be called pon to fulfil his promise to light the "hree Kings. The meeting was presided over by Capain W. Ross and there were also presnt. Captains R. M. Cliffe, C. E. Hood, >outh, H. E. Smith, W. Ruthe, J. Adamon, J. Flynn, U. McLean, Newton, C. lopkinß, J Kasper, Whittingham, Maylin nd Mr W. J. Nicholson (secretary of the Luckland Shipmasters' Union). The chairnan, in introducing the subject, said that he meeting was called because the Miniser for Marine was not going to keep the >romise made to Captain Hood and himelf. He did not intend to re-open the luestion as to whether or not a light hould be placed on Three Kings, or the usability of the sits. The opinion of 250 uaster mariners was obtained arid they lad declared that a light was wanted on firee Kings and had decided on the site.

History of the Agitation. The history of the agitation for a light md fog signals was given by Captain ELood. Two years ago a petition to Parliament was signed asking for addiional lights on the North coast. The first md most important light was one for Three Kings' and the 6econd, also urgent, vas an unwatched light on Fiat Rock, to he eastward of Kawau Island. This peti»ion was signed by about 200 shipmasters md was favourably reported on by the Petitions Committee. A little more than L2 months ago the Minister for Marine, tfhen in Auckland, informed a deputation 'That he was going to light Three Kings," md asked the deputation to ascertain the >pinions of shipmasters on two schemes of lighting which he had under review. A meeting of' shipmasters decided una,liimously in favourtof the scheme to place a first-class light and fog signal on the summit of the Big King. Further information was sent to Mr. Fisher in February, 1913, and he then said it was his intention to light t.he Kings. It came as a great surprise to all concerned to learn that the Minister now proposed to take a different course. More astonishing still was another statement made by the Minister to the effect that no shipmaster had been able to tell him where they could put a light on Three Kings. This remarkable statement was made in the. face of the petition of 200 shipmasters and the written opinions of 44. As to the question of whether a wireless compass could 'take the place of the light and thus relieve Mr. Fisher of hie promise, that must be answered by those members who had a knowledge of the subject. Correspondence with Minister. A letter sent to the Minister for Marine on Tuesday in reference to his published statements was read and in that the shipmasters protested against further postponing the very urgent question of lighting the Three Kings. While admitting 1 the distinct advantage, of wireless teleIgraphy they submitted that it would be more valuable as an adjunct to, insteac I of a substitute for, a first-class light. Thej I therefore asked the Department to , saj definitely whether it was the Department's intention to erect a light at Three. Kings If so, whether :n the near future the De partment would favourably consider th( erection of an un watched light on Fla' Bock. _ A reply has been received fron tire Minister for Marine to the effect tha he would be in Auckland on April 7 or I when he would be glad to have the oppor tunity of discussing the matter with th> shipmasters.

Wireless Compass not Known.

None of the masters present knew anything about the wireless compass, but Captain Hood said he had made inquiries from foreign-going masters in-port. They knew nothing about it. The navigating lieutenant of H.M.S. Pyramus knew of it, but in its present experimental stage he would not trust it.

Captain Adamson, an expert on compasses, said he knew nothing of the working of the new compass. Beyond tne heavy cost of installation and tie impossibility of warning sailing vessels and cargo boats, he said the master mariner wanted warnings that appealed to the senses, a light to guide him or a warning signal in fogs. He might wait too long for a wirei less message.

To Fulfil His Promise.

Captain Cliffs then proposed: "That | this representative meeting of shipmasters ' reaffirms the decision of a previous meet-, ing, as reported in the press, viz., 'That a first-class light and fog signal on the summit of the Big King is the only satisfactory and acceptable scheme of marking the dangers of the Three Kings, and this meeting of shipmasters calls on the Minister for Marine, the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, to fulfil his promise, given to its repi-esenta tives, to light the Three Kings.' " Captain Ruthe proposed as an amendment : " That no actior- be taken in the matter until the Hon. Minister for Marine has further investigated the question of wireless compasses." This was not seconded and Captain Cliffe's motion was carried unanimously. The meeting decided to telegraph a'copy of the resolution to the Minister.

It was decided to appoint the following committee to represent the Auckland Shipmasters' Association in reference to the Flat Rock light and to assist Captain Ross in carrying the business of the meeting to a finish: Captains Smith, Hopkins, Cliffe, Adamson, and Hood. Captain Ross, who expressed his wish to resign as representative of the association on the lighting question, was prevailed upon to retain the position and was' thanked for his services during the past two years.