SHIP SURVEYOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23259, 31 January 1939, Page 11

SHIP SURVEYOR

RESIGNATION OF POST CAPTAIN LANSLEY'S ACTION REQUEST FOR INQUIRY FAILS NOTABLE WAR EXPLOITS [by TELEGRAPH—PRESS association] CHRIST.CHURCH. Monday The Government surveyor of Bhips at Lyttelton, Captain A. Lansley, announced to-day that he has resigned for personal reasons connected with his work after unsuccessfully endeavouring to obtain an inquiry into existing conditions. He was appointed to the position about three years ago, having been transferred from a corresponding position in Dunedin.

Captain Lansley served during the Great War with the Dover patrol unit of the Navy, whose work was, perhaps, more arduous and difficult than that of any other. Then a lieutenant, he was in command of trawlers on the mine-sweeping service. In tho book "The Dover Patrol," by Admiral Sir Reginald Bacon, two notable salvage exploits of Captain Lansley are described in detail, one of these being when a trawler under his command, the -St. Germain, was in danger of sinking after being mined. Captain Lansley was born in Melbourne and served his time in sail, chiefly with the Duncan Line, of London. On gaining his second mate's certificate, he transferred io steam, taking ship to various parts of the world, including Australia, North and South America and the Far East. Coming to New Zealand, Captain Lansley entered the service of the Union Company and was employed for some time on the Pacific run.

About 13 years ngo Captain Lansley was appointed to the staff of the Marine Department at Auckland, where he remained for three years. He was in Dunedin for six years and was then granted a year's leave to visit Great Britain to bring before the authorities and to market a ship's cargo stress finder which he had invented. For this invention Captain Lansley received the highest award of the Royal Society of Arts for 1934, under the Thomas Gray Memorial Trust. Under the trust awards are made each year for the best invention by a seaman. There were 33 entries in the 1934 competition. Captain Lansley wrote a guide book for tho use of the instrument and it was described as "an excellent treatise on handling of lifts and cargo in general."