THE SHIPWRECKING BUSINESS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3155, 14 May 1883, Page 3

THE SHIPWRECKING BUSINESS.

The figures'quoted to a deputation of British shipowners by Mr Chamberlain are appalling. The leases of .vessels (excluding those lost from' stranding' or collision) between 1877 and 1881 .were an average of 368 .ships and 1551 lives per annum. Tn 1882 no fewer than 848 ships were lost, ’and 288lf lives. .-That many of these disasters. - 1 from foundering, casualties in the; ships, defective machinery, explosions, overloading,” were preventable (says “Truth ”) ia certain, and it would be a; good, thing if Mr Chamberlain could ;see his way to legislate at once, in the direction he iridi- _ cated in his startling statement, is-,.the widows or orphans of men drOwned by “ proved default ” should.be entitled, to sue for damages. The fact is, that a part ownership in trading vessels, has become a favorite investment ;with all sorts of outsiders,: and; shares are often held in vessels by men who know nothing' about them,: and who care for nothing except their annual dividend ; and so outrageously are ' ships habitually over insured in these days that the owners are usually in pocket by a wreck, and if the. vessel founders at sea there is the more cause for congratulation,", inasmuch as, when ship and crew have gone to the bottom there is no chance of any inconvenient inquiries.