FOR SAVING LIFE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 171, 15 April 1921, Page 6

FOR SAVING LIFE

BOAT AT THE HEADS t. MR. MASSEY TO INVESTIGATE THE PROPOSAL OUTLINED In furtherance of the proposal to institute a life-boat service in the vicinity of Wellington Heads, the Wellington Shipowners’ Federation, in association with other interested bodies, lias forwarded the following letter to the Prime Minister (the Hon. W. F. Massey):

Sir,— "It had been hoped to have an opportunity to arrange for a deputation to wait upon you, but as this has not been possible, we, tho undersigned, as representing the various organisations interested in the above matter, desire to wish Mrs. Massey, Miss Massey, and /our good, self, bon voyage, that God may guide you in counsel, give you health and strength, and a safe return to this Dominion, and that our great Empire may be made stronger in unity and prosperity by the deliberations of the Imperial Conference. "We desire to place before you our proposals for obtaining an «P-t°- date life-boat service for the Wellington Heads so that all possible help might be available should occasion arise, in January last, when the shocking accident to the scow Omaka occurred, we aig) told by the lighthouse people at Pencarrow that some of the men were strug- ' gling in the water ; for two hours, and that no assistance was forthcoming. Sir, if we had an efficient life-boat service an occurrence such as this could surely have been avoided. That accident seems to us a strong warning ,to be prepared in case worse disaster befall us, and we feel we must not face the future unprepared. Kight from Pencarrow or Barretts Beef to Sinclair Head we have an exposed, rocky, and dangerous coast and Cook Strait, with its erratic currents, is dangerous to navigate, especially in rough weather. As British men and women surely it is our imperative duty to see that a life-boat service is established, and before taking any steps in the matter we desire to obtain the co-operation and assistance of Government. "Our proposal is that an appeal should be made to the public for subscriptions to defray the initial cost of obtaining and installing the most efficient lifeboat procurable. It may be stated her that at the present time a sum ot approximately .£BO is held m trust by. the Hon. J. G. W. Aitk?n, and this amount will be handed over to us as soon as suitable arrangements are made. "For maintenance of the service we cle- * sire to ask Government to add a fraction of Id. per ton to the light dues paid by ships entering the harbour. This extra charge would not be objected to by shipowners, and would not bear heavily upon anyone. It is understood that many ot the latest life-boats used on the coast or Great Britain are motor-boats, and in this connection we would respectfully request that while in England you will cause, inquiries to be made in order, that the latest, and most reliable irformation may be obtained as to cost, maintenance, suitable equipment, etc. There is also the question of voluntary versus permanent paid crews for manning the lifeboat, and at the two meetings held by the interested parties the opinion was expressed that the most efficient service would be obtained from the latter, and if tho sanction of Government could be obtained to tho proposal, the services of tho men at Fort Dorset could perhaps be utilised to man the boat, and in this way a permanent crew would also bo ready in times of necessity. The practice usually adopted is to have tho life-boat fitted with a moveable carriage in order that it may be moved from place to place by road as required, so that the suit a-, bility or keeping tho boat at Seatoun need not be considered a drawback. "If you can see your way to approve of the scheme outlined above, and to obtain all possible information from Home, we are convinced it will materially assist in the collection of tho money required for purchasing a life-boat, and we are confident that warm support will be received from the public generally in establishing such a service for assisting distressed vessels and saving valuable lives, whan it is ''realised that disaster could often Be averted if timely help was available. "We have the honour to be,

'"Sir, "Your loyal and oljedient servants,

"(Signed) "For the N.Z. Shipowners’ Federation. "For the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. "Tor the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce. "For the Central Progress League. "For the Wellington Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen’s Association.”

THE PRIME MINISTER’S REPLY. The Prime Minister has replied in the following terms: — "I have to acknowledge 'the recti pt of your, letter of the 11th instant, and desire to cordially thank the members of your federation on behalf of Mrs. Mas-_ sey, my daughter, and myself, for their kind wishes in.connnction with my forthcoming mission to England to represent the , Dominion at the Imperial Conference. I have noted with interest your federation’s proposals for obtaining an up-to-date life-boat service for the Wellington Heads, and, as suggested, shall be pleased on my arrival in England to have full investigations made with a view to ascertaining the latest and most / reliable methods used in the Old Country. As soon as the necessary information has been obtained, I shall forward it to .my colleague, the Hon. the Minister of Marine, with a request that he place same before your federation as early as possible.”