ROCKET APPARATUS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11250, 30 June 1922, Page 5

ROCKET APPARATUS

DEPARTMENT MAKING INQUIRIES. Would the Marine Department take steps, asked Mr P. Fraser (Wellington Central), in the House of Representatives yesterday, to have installed in each of the chief ports of the Dominion an efficient and up-to-date rocket apparatus for life-saving in case of wrecks. In the case of the Wiltshire wreck, the Wellington Harbour Board’s rocket apparatus was dispatched to Auckland by special train, and did not arrive in time. The Minister said that it had not been necessary to dispatch a special train, as the ordinary train was run. ning at the time. Tho department was going into the question of what was the best apparatus to obtain. He understood that there were a number of new methods of throwing a line on to vessels, and the department was having inquiries made as to what was the best, most portable, and up-to-date system. He did not know that the Wellington Harbour Board’s apparatus would he the best to get. It was thoroughly reliable and up-to-date, but heavy and very expensive. He did not think it would be necessary to put an apparatus at every port. He thought that one at Auckland, one at Wellington, and one at tho Bluff would bo sufficient to meet all needs.