MINE FOUND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23687, 20 June 1940, Page 11

MINE FOUND

CAUSE OF SINKING OFFICIAL STATEMENT MR. PRASER'S REGRETS A RISK OF THE WAR ♦[BY TRLF<ORAPH —SPECIAL REP OUT EH] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The discovery of a mine In the locality where the liner Niagara was sunk early this morning shortly after sailing from Auckland was revealed by the Prime Minister, the Hor\. P. Frnser, in the House of Representatives in a statement made shortly before the dinner adjournment at 5.30 o'clock this evening. The statement followed an earlier reference to the loss of the liner. "One of the first steps that were taken very early this morning was the immediate despatch of minesweepers to the locality and I have now been advised by the naval authorities that already a mine has been swept up," the Prime Minister said. "This answers any question as to how the Niagara met her fate. Disposing of Menace

"All necessary steps are already being taken to dispose of the menace in this locality and to ensure that no further losses shall occur from this cause.

"Members will, of course, realise that in this war, as in the last war, there is nothing to prevent an occasional raider from escaping the network of patrols and embarking upon a career of surreptitious minelaying," Mr. Eraser continued. "It is, of course, highly regrettable that we should have lost this ship and her cargo, but there are at least three very reassuring aspects . "The first is, of course, that so far as can be ascertained at present there has been absolutely no loss of life. The second is that once the menace of a mine-field is discovered it can be easily and quickly disposed of and all necessary measures are, as I have said, being taken to this end. The third is that it disposes of any suspicion that the loss of the Niagara might have been due to internal treachery. Restrictions on Shipping

"Wo know now exactly what caused the loss and although it may be necessary to place restrictions on shipping for a sufficient period to enable all danger to be removed, there is no cause whatever for public alarm or uneasiness. "In the circumstances it has been decided that no vessels shall leave New Zealand ports this evening. Therefore the South Island steamers will not sail to-night. "1 would like to pay a tribute once more to the New Zealand Division of the Navy," Mr. Fraser added, amid applause. "Preparations had long been made to deal with this sort of thing and one of the first things done today was to despatch minesweepers. Now we have the result."