Ship Fires.

Progress, Volume III, Issue I, 1 November 1907, Page 7

Ship Fires.

A short time ago the insurance companies maintained an inspection of cargo during stowage. There were then no fires. Now there is no inspection of cargo, during stowage ; and fires rage. They are on the up grade for si7e and destructiveness, and they have reached present high-water mark with the disaster on the Turakina. No one can say how many lives and how many thousands worth of property they will go on to destroy. The plain moral is that the sooner we back to the inspection the better. Who is to do it, and who is to pay for it > That is another question. But if fires are to cease at sea, there must "be an inspection. On the other hand, if there is no inspection fires will not cease at sea. The Royal ( ommission of last year had a deal to^sayPabout spontaneous combustion and similar matter ; but the main moral of its report was the imperative need for inspection.