LOST LAUNCH ADVANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21254, 6 August 1932, Page 7

LOST LAUNCH ADVANCE

AN UNAVAILING SEARCH STATEMENT BY MINISTER Stating that it is. feared that tha launch Advance has been lost and pointing out that the Marine Department had done everything possible to discover its whereabouts, a report-of the search undertaken by the department has been received from the Minister of Marine by Mr. W. A. Veitch, M.P. for Wanganw. This report was in reply to information asked for by Mr. Veitch at the request of the Mayor of Wanganui, Mr. N. G. Armstrong. After giving details of the efforts'' made by the department to locate the launch, the report continues: — "Search, therefore, has been made by the department along the whole of the coast from Wellington to north of Mabia Peninsula. Nothing was seen of thelaunch or wreckage, and in view of thiSr; and of the very heavy weather experienced along the coast on several occasions after the launch left Napier, it can only be regretfully assumed that she has been lost. "I am informed by the owner that the ! launch was well 'fonnd and equipped with provisions and water for' well over a week, a compass and charts, and benzine to cover a cruising radius of nearly 700 miles. Had she been blown off. the coast she should have been, able to either steam or sail back, as she carried sails. "As regards the opinion expressed to you that the department had not done as much as it should Jiave, I think you will agree, from the above statement, that everything possible was done. As a matter of fact the owner himself called on the secretary on July 20, and after being fully advised as to the efforts of the department, expressed his appreciation of what had been done, and stated that he thought no further steps could have been taken. In any case, I may point out that it is the duty of the owner of a missing vessel to institute a search, but as nothing was being done by him in this instance, the department went on with it in order to facilitate the rescue of the, men if the launch was still afloat. "It may be argued that a vessel should have been sent out to search, but there were a number of vessels along tha coast, both inshore and offshore, keeping a sharp look-out from the time th» launch was reported overdue, and their watch covered a wide expanse of sea, from the East Cape to Wellington. In any case, as stated above, it was the owner'i responsibility to arrange for this.".