THE MILFORD MIX-UP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19769, 17 February 1927, Page 7

THE MILFORD MIX-UP

MINISTER’S EXPLANATION NEWSPAPER ARTICLE RESENTED (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 16. Asked to-day whether his attention had been called to a leading article in the “Otago Daily Times” of February 11, entitled “A Lamo Apologia,” the Hon. W. Nosworthy, Minister in charge, of the Tourist Department, said he had seen tho article, and desired to make certain comments upon it. “I noticed.” said tho Minister, “that the statement I made to the Press in Christchurch on February 9, which forms the basis of the Dunedin journal’s criticism, was sent out by Press Association and published by the ‘Times’ with-the following sentence omitted: ‘lt was difficult to understand why. when the launch did not put in an appearance, some attempt was not made to land a party in the ship’s boats, as tho weather was calm.’ ” The omission was an important one, as ho was still of opinion that if blame was attributable to anyone, it must rest on the shoulders of the Union Steam Ship Company. The track manager’s report showed that the Moeraki did not proceed further into Milford Sound than Sterling Falls. Anyone who knew the distance and direction of Sterling Falls from the Sandfly Huts would realise that it would be practically impossible for the ship’s signals to bo heard from that position. The. men, after waiting on the sound for 15 hours on the date of the expected arrival of the vessel, had gone ashore. They could hardly be expected to remain cruising about day and night indefinitely, and he was disposed to believe their statement that the signals were not heard, notwithstanding the ungenerous suggestion of the “Times” that sfleh a statement was unworthy of acceptance.. Captain Hamilton, a perfectly independent authority who was camped at Sutherland’s, heard only one detonator. Had the ship gone to the usual stopping place at Bowen Falls she would have been plainly visible from Sutherland’s and the whole trouble would have been avoided.