LOSS OF THE TAINUI.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16681, 2 March 1920, Page 6

LOSS OF THE TAINUI.

SOME FURTHER CASES* Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, March 1. Sir John Findlay, K.C., opened his defence on behalf of the defendants of Needham and Smellic. He felt sure, he said, that he would be entitled to the' dismissal cf the informations without further trouble, but his were not to ask for that. He had been instructed to take a course that would make for the fullest possible investigation and publicity, and that would show that the Refrigerating Company did not seek to shelter under any technicality. The company wanted the fullest possible investigations of the whole of the circumstances of the loading of the Tainui, of her construction, and of the .acts of every officer concerned with the Refrigerating Company, which in any way bore upon the position, and that kvould serve the purpose of clearing the public mind of any element of suspicion that there was out of gaol someone who should have been in gaol for the Tainui disaster. Several witnesses gave evidence as to the Tainui being well conditioned, and the further hearing was adjourned till to-morrow.