THE ELKAHIRA.

Wairarapa Age, 24 September 1923, Page 5

THE ELKAHIRA.

SOME DISGRACEFUL FACTS. DISCLOSED AT ENQUIRY. (Press Association—Copyright.) (Received 5.5 p.m.) London, Sept. 21.—At the El Kahira inquiry Olivier, one of the owners, admitted that he knew that wireless should have been fitted, but they wanted to despatch her without wireless unless the Board of Trade stopped her. She had been running for a year without it. Counsel: Despite this you allowed the El Kahira to sail? Olivier did not reply. To further questions he said that it was decided to sell the ship when she reached her destination to anyone who would buy her. He could not say whether the Greeks at this time would buy almost any vessel, however bad her condition, but he agreed that the majority of Greek ships were not insurable in London in 1922. The marine superintendent of the Olivier Company said he appointed a Greek captain to get the El Kahira ready. The Greek was responsible. He took no steps to have the life-boats ready and nothing was done until witness had heated words with him. Olivier refused to dry dock the vessel, saying she would be docked at the Piraeus. Witness impressed upon Oliwr the importance of wireless. Olivier shrugged his shoulders and said that there was plenty of time.—(A and N.Z.)