MARINE COURT ASSESSORS

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1930, Page 9

MARINE COURT ASSESSORS

' QUESTION OF QUALIFICATION. VIEWS OF OFFICERS’ GUILD. By Telegraph.—Press Association Wellington, Last Night. At a general meeting of the Wellington Merchant Service Guild, held today, the finding of the Nautical Court of Inquiry touching the Manuka wreck was again discussed and the following resolution was carried: —

“That this large and representative meeting of members of the' Merchant Service Guild, held on January 17, 1930, strongly protests against an assessor holding such a position if he has been away from active sea life more than five years. There are members of the profession actively employed who would sit on such cases and who are more conversant with present-day conditions. Assessors should be men who have had experience in the class of vessel and trade that is under discussion. We would point out that naval officers in the ease of a courtrmartial are tried by their own brother officers actively engaged at sea.”