RESCUE WORK AT SEA

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 23013, 3 October 1944, Page 4

RESCUE WORK AT SEA

Co-ordinated Service New Zealand Organiser Visits Timaru A permanent Air-sea Rescue Service comprising the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the fishermen of New Zealand, the police and certain harbour employees is being formed throughout the Dominion under the direction of the organiser, Flight Lieutenant V. Thorne, D.C.M., of the Air Department, Wellington, who addressed a meeting cf fishermen of Timaru on Saturday evening. Although there was no wish to enter into a controversy about the attempt to save the lives of the two men in the fishing launch Hope, which drifted from Dunedin to north of Christchurch some time ago, it was felt that there was ample scope for improvement. The Hope drifted by the following centres from which more coordinated rescue work could have been attempted: Port Chalmers, Kantane, Moeraki. Oamaru, Timaru, Akaroa and Lyttelton, giving a considerable overlap in the area of the sea in which the Hope drifted. Timaru was the only port of these with a properly organised service. For that reason Flight Lieutenant Thorne held ids inaugural meeting here. As far as the fishermen are concerned their services are given voluntarily. They will be on call day and night to aid distressed persons at sea. Reciprocal aid between the Air Force and the launches of the fishermen for all distress at sea was discussed by Flight Lieutenant Thorne, who said that the service existed to help not only airmen forced down, but all in peril at sea within a reasonable distance of New Zealand. The need of such a organisation, not only at present but to safeguard lives in the future, was patent. He assured the meeting that the whole resources of the R.N.Z.A.F. would be used, if necessary, in the work of the service. He described the equipment used in rescue work at sea, and discussed the means by which it would become available. Communications A more efficient communications service was the next point elaborated by the speaker. After a brief discussion it was agreed by the meeting that all communications relative to Timaru should be passed, through the police station. Constable Gadsby, who represented the police, assured members of the utmost co-operation. The greatest of all sea traditions was the saving of life at sea, said Flight Lieutenant Thorne. No risk was counted too great and no excuse could be accepted for not making an attempt, even though lives might be lost in the endeavour. It was no surprise that the Timaru branch of the service, comprising seafaring men and fishermen, should be so willing to offer their services. He knew there was no thought of the heroic or the spectacular in their enthusism to weld themselves into an efficient link of the Service, which would afford a great measure of security to themselves and their brothers at sea. Flight Lieutenant Thorne is a master mariner and he was accompanied to the meeting by Flight Lieutenant G. Buckley, of Ashburton, who is the controlling authority for South Canterbury.