SAFEGUARDING SHIPPING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19257, 22 August 1924, Page 8

SAFEGUARDING SHIPPING.

SUGGESTED WIRELESS EQUIPMENT. DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. iPbb United Press Association 1 WELLINGTON, August 21. A deputation of Labour members of Parliament and representatives of the Seamen’s Union, Merchant Service Guild. Engineers', and Cooks’ and Stewards’ Unions waited on the Hon. G. J. Anderson, Minister of Marine, with suggestions in reference to the wireless equipment of all vessels trading to New Zealand ports. The Minister stated that the Government would shortly summon a conference of representatives of all sea-going interests to consider the best means of fitting passenger ships with wireless. He hoped that the Shipping Act would be so amended this session as to bring about this reform Mr W. T. Young, for the Seamen’s Union, expressed his appreciation of this, but said that they were anxious to know whether the Government’s sympathy went to the extent of requiring the installation of wireless on all vessels irrespective of the size or the kind of trade they were engaged in. Such installation should have a range of at least 200 miles Mr Kennedy, for the Cooks and Stewards' Union, said that the Minister should exercise the power to stop seamen going to sea when it was dangerous to do so. The expense of delay to ship owners should not outweigh the value of men’s lives.

The Minister said he wanted to take practical as well as sympathetic action, hut thej must be careful not to drive ships out of the New Zealand registry. Ho had hoped that wireless telephony might have met the position that had arisen in regard to the smaller vessels, lint he was informed that this was not practicable.

PROVISION OF MOTOR LIFEBOAT. OLD PROPOSAL REVIVED. (Pan UNrnrn Pses* AssoctattoiO WKLLISfiTON, August 21. The council ot the Wellington Chnmber of Commerce, in passing a resolution of sympathy with the dependents of the Ripple crew, revived the old proposal for the provision of a motor lifet .nit which was put forward a few years URO when a small sailer was lost at Wellington Heads, and the people ashore who saw the wreck were unable to render aid. The cost. £12,000, it was urged, ought to be obtained from the Wellington people for such an object. Captain Peterson, the originator of the proposal, promised to place full data before the chamber. The Prime Minister obtained information on the subject during his recent visit to England.