LOSS OF THE USWORTH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22628, 20 July 1935, Page 14

LOSS OF THE USWORTH

STEERING GEAR FAILS COMMISSIONER’S REPORT (British Official Wireless.! RUGBY, July 18. (Received July 19, at 5.5 p.m.) Speaking on the Board of Trade vote in the House of Commons, Mr Runciman mentioned the problem of the safety of lives at sea and referred to the losses of the Usworth, the Blairgowrie, the La Crescenta and tire Mill pool wreck. The Commissioner, Lord Merrivale, had completed inquiries into three of these cases and there was no reflection in the judgments on the Board of Trade, which had one of the best technical stalls in the world. There were four main points on which the court issued solemn opinions, namely, steering gear, manning, surveys and the way they .have been conducted, and entries in logs. Lord Merrivale believed the loss of the Usworth was due to failure of the steering gear and that her gear was of a kind which involved special risks. Immediately he heard the finding Mr Runciman set up a strong committee to consider the types of main and auxiliary steering gear fitted on the Usworth and the Blairgowrie. As soon as the Government had (he committee’s report it would study and, if necessary, act upon it.