AMERICAN SHIPPING

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 46, 18 November 1920, Page 5

AMERICAN SHIPPING

a. . ». • -*i EVIDENCE' OF FAULTY CONSTRUCTION ~ * SENSATIONAL ALLEGATIONS J (By Tolciraph-PrcHß ABBOc'aUon-CopyrlirM New York, November 16. The evidence submitted to ilia commit* ■ tee which, is investigating, charges eon.cerning tllio vessels built for the ..United States Shipping Bonrd grows more sensational daily. Expert witnesses testified, that ships were equipped ..with a now- electric steering: apparatus.'which . made ( t'Jiem a menace to navigation. It is claimed that other vessels, constructed 01 unseasoned wood aud. with insufficient framework, lost their ehapo through warping. One witness stated tliafc ho ha<l pushed rivets out of ships' hulls with his fingers, so badly was the rivejtlllK dono. Other witnesses claimed! that tho employment of incxperionced • painters- had resulted in the painted camouflage peeling off the vessels in tho war zouc. < It is also alleged that Lloyd's inspected and passed unsea- ■ worthv ships builu in private yards for tho Shipping Board.—Aus.-N.ft. Cable Assn.

' . DUMMY FASTENINGS " ; ! . «< DECLARED TO HAVE BEEN PUT IN : COMMONWEALTH SHIPS. (Rec. November-17, 10.20 p.m.) j Sydney, November 17. Giving evidence before- the federal Public Works Committer inquiring regarding tho building of Commonwealth 6hips, ilr. Walliu, shipping, manager for Burns, Pliilp, and Co., stated that his 'firm- negotiated for iho purchase of two 'wooden sliips being built for the Government by Kidman and May oh. but owing to hogging in one of tlie vessel* and in view of certain statements' in his firm's possession they refused to take tho vessels and dfcclined to pay for the work done:

A declaration of a master mariner employed. iby Burns, Pliilp, and Co. stated .that in one of the vessels ho inspected, there wero thousands of dummy fastenings put in to represent clinched-up fastenings, and during the construction of the keel whenever an auger broke tho broken piece hud been left in and a dummy fn6teningput down on top.- Several other statements to tlie same effect were nmde by employees. Kidman and Mayoh .were engaged in. building two vessels.

; The chairman of the committee cliarne. terisetl them as grave charges of fraud, a 6 dummy fastenings would cause hogging. —Press As6n.