THE SEALERS'LOT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1846, 4 September 1913, Page 5

THE SEALERS'LOT.

BAD TIME AT THE MACQUARIES. The unhappy experience recently suffered by a party of sealers in the employ of Mr. Joseph Hatch at Macquario Islands formed the subject of a question in the House of Representatives which was answered by, tho Prime Minister yesterday. The quostion stood in tho name of Mr. E. H. Clark, and asked the Prime Minister whether ho' will communicate with tho Tasmanian Government, and, if possible, arrange that steps bo taken to place tho oil industry of the Macquarie Islands on a sound footing, and thus prevent men being misled and practically isolated, as under the existing conditions the result can eventually only have one ending—a serious disaster. The Prime Minister replied: Complaints have often been made about the manner in which Mr. Hatch treats the men he employs on Macquarie Island, in that ho leaves them on the island longer than ho should, and without proper supplies for the time they are left there. Tho Marine Department has on several occasions had to send down a steamer to relievo them. Some years ago negotiations were carried on between tho Now Zealand and tho Tasmanian Governments 011 tho subject of tho island being transferred to New Zealand. The Government of Tasmania was willing that tho transfer should bo made, but the Parliament of that colony did not agree.