SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20116, 29 November 1928, Page 11

SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA.

WIRELESS AND ITS USES.

PLEA FOR SHIP'OPERATORS.

DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT.

(Received November 28, 5.25 p.m.)

British Wireless. RUGBY, Nov. 27. Tho matter of safety of life at sea was under consideration to-day in tho Houso of Commons.

Sir Robert Thomas, Liberal member for Anglesey, asked tho President of tho Board of Trade, Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister, whether, with a view to affording wireless operators on board ships a chance of saving their own lives when their ships had to bo abandoned, he would order investigations to bo held to devise means by which tho wireless apparatus could be set to tap out automatically an S.O.S. signal ajid tho latitude and longitudo of the vessel.

Sir Philip replied that he was advised there would probably be no difficulty in devising such an instrument, but lie thought that in ordinary cases it, would J »e of very littlo use as it would ho in operation for a very short timo. Moreover, it would have no provision for receiving messages in reply from ships going to, tho rescue.

Wireless operators had behaved with tremendous gallantry and by remaining at their posts had not merely sent out S.O.S. calls, but had received messages from sh;ps going to tho rescue. His department would bo glad at any timo to discuss tho value of any automatic apparatus, but tho difficulties must bo borno in mind. Tho Minister was then asked whether ho would consider making it compulsory for every passenger vessel to carry at least ono motor-lifeboat equipped with wireless and a wireless receiver.

Sir Philip said theso questions would be considered at the International Conference on tho Safety of Life at Sea, which would take place next spring.