SAFETY AT SEA

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19633, 20 July 1935, Page 7

SAFETY AT SEA

LOSSES OF BRITISH SHIPS. RESULT OF INVESTIGATIONS. I I ) j SOLEMN WARNINGS ISSUED. (Official Wireless,) RUGBY, July 18. Speaking on the Board of Trade vole in the House of Commons, the President of the board, Mr Walter Runciman, mentioned the problem of tho safety of.lives at sea. He referred to the losses of the Usvvrth, Blairgowrie, La Crescenta and Millpool. The Wreck Commissioner, Lord Mcrrivale, had completed inquiries into three of these cases, said Mr Runciman, and' there was no reflection in his judgments on the Board of Trade, which iiad one of the best technical staffs in the world. There were four main points on which the Court had issued solemn opinions, namely, steering' gear, manning, surveys and the had been conducted, and entries in logs. Lord Merrivalc believed, the loss of tho Usworth was due to the failure of the steering gear, and that iter gear was of a kind which involved special risks. Mr Runciman said that immediately lie had heard this finding lie had set up a strong committee to consider the types of main and auxiliary steering gear fitted on the Usworth and Blairgowrie. As soon as the Government had the committee’s report, it would study .it and, if necessary, act upon it.