OUR COASTAL SURVEY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 32, 7 February 1905, Page 4

OUR COASTAL SURVEY.

The news that the work of surveying our coast line now being carried out by H.M.S. Penguin is to be discontinued has been reefflved with considerable, disapproval by the general public and by those chiefly interested in the safety of our sea-borne traffic. Our coast is admittedly a dangerous one. and there is

still a large amount of survey -work to be done . before we can be said to have taken all reasonable precautions against disasters at sea. It seems, however, that it is the intention of our Govern-

ment to carry on this work in future on its own account: and that a suggestion to this effect emanated in the first place from the Admiralty. If the Admiralty desires to throw this responsibility upon the local authorities we must undertake it as best we can. But we fear

that there is at least a danger lest our own Marine Department may find it difficult, if not impossible, to get the work done so well as when it was under the control of the British Admiralty. Marine surveying is work that requires special expert skill for its successful accomplishment; and it may not be easy for our Government to command the necessary As to the argument for economy, we think that there is very bttle to be said for tbe proposed change on that ground. The amotmt expended by New Zealand on the Penguin's work last year was only about £5000 —considerably less than the sum voted —and we need hardly remind our readers that such a sum spent every year is a very trivial insurance premium to pay for the safety of out ships. It would be a very small wreck that would not cost the country more than £5000. However, if the Admiralty desires to arter the existing arrangements we must do the best we can for ourselves. But on no account should the work of resurveying onr coastline be allowed to lapse: and every exertion must be made by the Minister for Marine to ensure that the work will be done as efficiently and thoroughly as in tbe past under the management of the Admiralty.