THE THREE KINGS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2925, 10 November 1916, Page 6

THE THREE KINGS

A DIFFICULT PROBLEM \

MR. F. M. B. FISHER'S VIEWS

The problem of how to remove or minimise the great danger to navigation which tho Three Kings rocks now are and have always been still interests Mr. P. M. B. Fisher,'. formerly Minister of Marine. In a'letter from England to a friend in Wellington he discusses the matter at a little length, and incidentally declares his opinions strongly against any attempt to erect a light on tho Kings. Mr. Fisher writes:—

"Tho war and the porils. of the Navy constantly afloat through the long, dark, foggy winters are compelling the greatest efforts of tho best men upon tho question of finding a ship's bearings in thick weather. In addition, special attention is being paid to the wireless compass and direction-finder, in order to be able to locato tlie direction of a vessel using tho wireless at sea. It is probable that the necessities of'all the navies will result in some perfect system being' evolved, and no doubt the Germans will be fully employed'on the problem. I hope soon to havo an opportunity of consulting a famous expert of Sweden upon the subject, but in the meantime I have no hesitation in expressing my belief that no light can be made that will make the Three Kings safe. On the contrary, a light would become an additional source of danger, for lin thick weather ships would probably go ashore in groping around to pick up tho obscured gleam. I have > never travelled on a ship yet without putting the whole proposition before the experienced skipper, and almost invariably I get tho same answer —'If you cannot'see tho light just when it is wanted, what is the use of the light?' It would act as a candle to a moth, and merely become the means of luring men on to danger. "There is no one in New Zealand more eager and more anxious than I to sco that problem solved. I want to see it solved'because it is, I believe, one of the most difficult dangers in the world to make reasonably safe. In tho United States, Canada, and England I can find no solution, and no expert can I discover who would recommend a light. " ■

"It has afforded me not a little satisfaction to know that my original conception of tho Kings' problem.was reasonably sound, although opposed by so many skippers who roside. in Auckland. I do hope they will exorcise a little patience, and not press the Government to agree to a lafcge expenditure upon what must bo regarded as a dangerous light. "From what I have now seen of the world at large, I do not think our coasts aro as well lighted as they should be. For a young, small country with an unduly long coastline we have dono very well, but not well enough. Every penny received from light dues should bo earmarked for more and better lights, and this policy should bo continued until our sea coast is second to, nono in the world for safety."