PAINFUL TASK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26399, 1 March 1947, Page 8

PAINFUL TASK

REVIEW BY CHAIRMAN CAPTAIN’S HIGH REPUTE PA. WELLINGTON, Feb. 28. Commenting on the findings, Mr Goulding said it became the duty of the court to pronounce its determination regarding the master’s default, and he expressed appreciation of the manner in which the marine assessors, Captains A. T. Norton and J. Rankine, had approached a difficult matter and helped him. “ They appreciate to the full the serious and grave responsibility that falls on them when the certificate of a fellow-master mariner is brought in jeopardy,” the chairman said. “To them as well as to myself it is a dis-

tasteful and painful task. They have not shrunk from their duty and responsibility, and it is proper in announcing the finding to say that Captain Darroch is a master mariner of great repute. “With more than half a century of seafaring life, his had been a long and, up to now, blameless career. He has had a long record in the past of good and efficient service as a master, both in peace and war, of which he may justly be proud. At the time of this unhappy disaster he had already passed the age at which many master mariners have retired. "That, reputation and those achievements,” Mr Goulding said, “have not been overlooked by the court in coming to its decision, nor are the other matters whch counsel for Captain Darroch so ably and forcefully stressed when he addressed us.

“ On the other hand, the court cannot overlook the serious responsibility which devolves on the master of a vessel like the Wanganella. Nor can the court overlook the failure of the master in the manner already indicated to safeguard the ship and- her large complement of passengers and crew from such a disaster as, that which overtook her. For a little time they were in very great peril. Nor does the, court overlook the fact that thereafter the master, as well as all the other officers and members of the crew, acted with promptitude, skill, courage, and in accord with the best traditions of the merchant service. “ It would not be in the best interest of that service itself,” Mr Goulding said, “nor would it be proper for the court to allow its natural sympathy for the master to outweigh what it considers its duty in this matter.

“It is a matter of extreme regret to all the members of the court that they feel impelled in all the circumstances to suspend Captain Darroch’s certificate. In doing so the court suspends it for three months only. That is the shortest suspension which is consonant both with the gravity of the view the court takes of the captain’s default and of everything which has been urged in his favour.”