LIFE AT SEA

Southland Times, Issue 20662, 18 April 1929, Page 7

LIFE AT SEA

MEASURES FOR SAFETY

IMPORTANT CONFERENCE IN LONDON

MESSAGE FROM THE KING

(United Press Assn. —By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Rugby, April 16.

The first meeting of the International Conference on the Safety of Life at Sea opened this morning at the Foreign Office. Delegates were present from 13 foreign countries, and representatives from the League of Nations were also present.

Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister, President, of the Board of Trade, conveyed to the conference a message from the King extending a cordial welcome to the delegates. His Majesty recalled the conference which met in London over 15 years ago, and expressed pleasure that so many countries which participated in that, conference now once more united in co-operation in the great cause of safety of life at sea.

Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister, addressing the conference, said: “The purpose of this conference is to review the conference of 1914, and we assemble almost on the anniversary of the Titanic disaster, which was the immediate cause of the last conference. That conference was of the greatest value; it was a novel and ambitious experiment and sought to cover a wide field. Most of the questions affecting the safety of passengers came within its purview. That conference dispersed and within six months came the cataclysm of the Great War, and now we are met again all allies in the common cause of humanity, and the very experience of the war will be an aid in this pacific task. Much time and study have been devoted to problems of construction, and provisional conclusions have been tested by actual application to new ships. Great developments have taken place in wireless telegraphy, wireless becoming, if it has not already become, the most important element in the safety of life at sea to-day. It not only insures greater safety for the ship which carries it, but it makes her a potential saviour of her sister ships. On these and other problems you bring to bear individual and collective experience which is unrivalled.”

On the proposal of Mr Wallace Whitehead. of the United States delegation, ViceAdmiral Sir H. Richmond, chairman of the British delegation, took the chair. —British Official Wireless.

DOMINION REPRESENTATIVES

(Rec. 8.55 p.m.)

London, April 16.

Canada, Australia and the Irish Free State are represented at the Maritime Conference. The Australian delegates are Captains Feakes and .Davies from the Australian Navy, and T. A. Free, of Huddart Parker’s, representing the mercantile marine. —Australian Press Association.