SAFETY AT SEA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXX, Issue 20165, 20 July 1935, Page 17

SAFETY AT SEA

IMPORTANT INVESTIGATION IN ENGLAND ALLEGED FAILURE OF STEERING GEAR British Official Wireless (Received July 19, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, July 18. Speaking on the Board of Trade Vote in the House of Commons, the President of the Board of Trade, Mr Walter Runciman, mentioned the problem of the safety of lives at sea. He referred to the losses of the Usworth, Blairgowrie, La Oresenta and Millpool. The Wreck Commissioner (Lord Merrievale) said he had completed inquiries into three such cases, and there was no reflection in the Committee’s judgments on the Board of Trade, which he said, had one of the best technical staffs in the world. There were four main points on which the Court issued solemn opinions, namely, steering gear and manning, surveys and the way they had been conducted, and the entries in the logs. Lord Merrievale believed the loss of the Usworth was due to the failure of the steering gear, and that her gear was of the kind which involved special risks. Immediately he heard the finding, Mr Runciman set up a strong committee to consider the types of main and auxiliary steering gear fitted on the Usworth and the Blairgowrie. As soon as the Government had the Committee’s report, it would study and, if necessary, act upon it.