LACK OF WIRELESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21982, 13 December 1934, Page 10

LACK OF WIRELESS

AUSTRALIAN COASTAL SHIP DEMAND BY SEAMEN SEQUEL TO CORAMBA WRECK [from our own correspondent] SYDNEY. Dec. 6 The loss, with 17 hands, of the coastal steamer Coramba in the course of the week-end gale off the Victorian coast, has once again directed attention to the fact that such vessels are not compelled to carry wireless equipment. In marine circles it is stated that wireless could not have saved the Coramba, but the seamen contend otherwise, and are calling upon the Federal Government to amend the Navigation Act so that no vessel will be able to go to sea unless it is equipped with wireless. Yesterday the Victorian seamen refused to man • a vessel intended to take up the running of the Coramba because it was not so equipped. It was also decided that, after 14 days, the men would refuse to man any vessel without wireless. For years the officers and the seamen have been urging that every vessel in Australian waters should be compelled to carry wireless. Vessels carrying passengers must be equipped, and it has been argued that the lives of the crew are just as important as the lives of the passengers. The Sydney seamen have announced their intention of following the lead set by the Victorian branch of the union. It j s pointed out that the toll of coastal shipping in recent years has been a heaVy one, and it is contended that if wireless equipment saved only one life it would be worth while. The owners say that the'value of wireless in saving a ship caught in a storm such as that which must have overwhelmed the Coramba is so problematical that the great expense involved in equipping every vessel could not be justified. It is claimed that if the Coramba had been able to send out an S.O.S. it is extremely doubtful whether a rescue ship would have done any good. The expense would be added to because it would be necessary to add a wireless operator to every crew. Year in and year out that operator would have nothing to do, for most of the coastal runs were so short that the sending of messages would be useless. In reply the seamen say wireless would be invaluable in warning small vessels of the approach of a storm. They would be able to seek shelter and it is certain that many valuable lives would thus be saved. Since the mail left Australia the seamen again refused to supply' a crew for the steamer intended to replace the Coramba, owing to the lack of wireless. The sailing was consequently abandoned. EQUIPMENT ORDERED SMALL COASTAL VESSELS REGULATION TO APPLY CANBERRA, Dec. 11 A new regulation under the Commerce Act requiring all vessels engaged in inter-State trade to be equipped with wireless will be brought into operation by the Federal Government in a few days. The regulation applies particularly to vessels of fewer than ? l6oo tons, which at present are not compelled to carry wireless. This action follows the refusal of the Seamen's Union in Melbourne to provide a crew for a ship not equipped with wireless a few days ago. in consequence of the wreck of the coastal steamer Coramba in the tragic storm of November 30, the entire crew of 17 being lost.