POET BOWEN WRECK

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 257, 27 September 1940, Page 10

POET BOWEN WRECK

VALUABLE SALVAGE WORK

Per Press Association

AVANGANUr, Sept. 26. The Port Bowen wreck, which is being dismantled where it is lying close inshore at Castleeliff, Wanganui, was visited by tho Minister of Supply (Hon. D, G. Sullivan) yesterday. Mr Sullivan said ho was immensely impressed with the value to New Zealand of the work being done and the progress made. The vessel, he said, contained 8000 tons of •material which was being leelaimed— material comprising steel plates, steel angle iron and girders, machinery, refrigerating’gear, nautical instruments, and a considerable quantity of non-ferrous metals which are valuable in normal times but almost beyond price at present when the difficult}' of obtaining sufficient supplies of many things constitutes a major problem for the Ministry of Supply. Some 80 men are employed on the work, and the Minister was told by the engineer in charge, Mr E. J. Dennis, of the Department of Industries and Commerce, that the completion of the debuilding of the vessel will take many more months.

The Minister paid a tribute to Mr ,T. Cable, who, as a member of the Munitions Committee, made an ofFer to the Government—which offer was accepted—that the plant necessary for the debuilding work be supplied by his firm frpe of charge and that only a 5 per cent, return in wages be asked. “The undertaking of this work in this way is of great value to the nation,” concluded the Minister.