CAPTAIN BLAMEWORTHY

Chronicle (Levin), 22 November 1949, Page 5

CAPTAIN BLAMEWORTHY

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter.

Licence Suspeuded Following Hoiocaust On Ship

Comriaht)

Retieivfed. Tjife^day,', 10 adn.OTTAWA, fidV. 21. J"ustice R. L. Kellock, in the Supreme Court of Canada, ordered the suspension fpf one year ,bf the liceritjfe df Captaih WilMam Taylor, master of the ill-fateii cruise ship Noronic, which was burned in Toronto Harbour on Sejitember 17 with the ioss of 118 lives. The order suspending the licence came in a brief judgment delivered by Mr. J.ustice . Kellqck, .whb . also ordered the costs of the investigation to be paid by Cdnada Steamship Lines, dWhefS 6f the Noronic. In a report tdbled in thl Commons shortly after He had delivered his judgrtieht Suspendirig Captain Taylor, the judgfe folihd that th 'e loss of the ship and the loss of life had resulted from the failure of Canada Steamship Lihes arid 'Captain faylor to take adequate precautions against fire. The judge, in particular, censured the owners dhd master fdr" failure to provide thd prbpfer means of detecting and fighting fires while in dock, and for getting passengers oif the ship should it take fire in port. MdSt of thb dead wbrb trappfed in their bunks. Thd idehtified dead totalled 111. i Seven persons are known to be missing. The remainder of the 527 passengers ahd 16 creW meihbers aboard the ship at the time of the outbreak escaped., While critibal of the actionS of the captain after the fire broke oUt, Judge Kellock said that the actions of the ordinary crew mPihbers were no doubt what they Wbuld be expected to do in such circumstances.