INACCURATE CHARTS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 January 1930, Page 2

INACCURATE CHARTS

NORTH AUSTRALIAN COASTS. SYDNEY, •January 12. Commander Harry T. Bennett, R.N. I retired), as late commanding officer of H.M.A.S. Geranium, which lie says on the excuse df economy, was paid off in 1927 on the surveying service, lias written a long letter in the open columns of the Sydney Press which ought to compel the Government to sit up and take notice. He emphasises the danger to shipping “brought about by the decision of the Government to pay off the sole remaining ship employed on survey work.” He refers to H.AI.A.S. Moresby.

Here, inter alia, is what he says: “Trie Australian coast is one of the worst surveyed in the whole world, especially the areas which were under survey during the time 1 held command ol the Geranium, namely, the north and nefrth-west of Australia, and the east coast of:Queensland. r lhe north and north-west coasts are practically unexplored. For example ,in m.v first survey, at the entrance to McArthur river, at the south-west corner of the Gulf of Carpentaria, the Sir Edwaid Pellew group of islands was just ten and a half miles further west than shown on the existing chart! There is enought surveying work round Australia to keep two ships constantly employed for the next 300 years! This is no fantastic statement. Dangers have been located right in tbe path of .shipping recently; 'fortunately ships have missed them, though probably often by inches.

Commander Bennett quotes two instances of what he describes as hundreds of most serious errors in Austral, inn coastal charts, and says that, to quote all the serious inaccuracies found in lhe last six years, would fiill a book. Siiue -is a retired officer. Commander Benneto has no axe to grind—his letter takes up nearly a column of Sydney’s leading morning newspaper—his statements certainly appear to justify action by some private member on tbe floor of the House if tbe Government declines to take notice of them.