THE TITANIC DISASTER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7, 6 May 1912, Page 8

THE TITANIC DISASTER.

LESSONS LEAHXED. ADDRESS 15Y Mil. HAVELOCK WILSON. His position ns secretary of the heelorated Seamen's Union, and the fact that ho is an old sailor and a member of the Advisory Committee to the Board of Trade, entitles Mr Havelock Wilson, who is on a visit to New Zealand, to speak with' knowledge on the recent awful calamity of the wreck of the Titanic. There was a large andicii'jo at the Auckland Opera House last Sunday night to hear him, and ovciv £4O was collected in aid of the i .-datives of those who were lost in tae wreck. Mr Ernest Davis presided. Mr Wilson was politely facetious at the expense of the Board of I rade, which he said existed in name only, the business being done by the permanent officials. He was one of an advisory committee appointed some six years ago, but the Board apparently thought the duties of the coxnmittei were to say “yes” to everything tin Board did, and contended that tin committee had no authority in matter; affecting the regulations dealing witf life-saving appliances. He mentionw that a year ago, when the question o: the boats on the Titpnic came up be fore the committee lie had .said that a: soon as the public realised that sac had only boats enough to carry hal, the people on board, so soon work, there be trouble. But he had no idea the fact would be brought out in sum a melancholy manner. Everybody thought the Titanic was absolutely unsiukable. As soon as ho read of t.'.-c calamity he was certain that she hat not struck end on, because even if ho; bows had been smashed the forwarc bulkhead would have kept her aflea: for days. He came to the conclusioi that she had glanced along the her; and ripped her side nut. He hopec that this would not suggest that wa tertight bulkheads were of no service They should be insisted upon in tin ease of passenger ships. As some pro pic were aware, ships had double bo! toms about three feet apart—where tin water ballast was carried—and he wa: strongly of opinion that .this doubl; skin should be carried right up t: the water-line* He mentioned tha lie ih acl known vessels with the out side bottom nipped practically off: still, those vessels had some boon on their ballast tanks

It was a serious thing that the Board of Trade had permitted ships to carry only half enough boats for the people on board. He was not going to blame owners for this remissness. The permanent officials and the nautical advisors of the Board were to blame. Speaking of the adverse comments on Mr Ismay, be said ho. was very glad indeed that that gentleman had been saved, as it would allow him to realise to the fullest extent what it meant to be placed in the position of these unfortunate people on board the Titanic. The lesson would never be forgotten by owners. Mr Wilson was very pained and surprised that these unfavourable comments had been made on Mr Ismay, as there were no more conscientious or careful •shipowners in the whole of Great Bidtain than Ismay and Co., who were responsible for the White Star line. The remarks about racing across the Atlantic Mr Wilson characterised as “tommy rot.” Then there was the insinuation that Mr Ismay had interfered with the Captain of the Titanic.; Those who suggested such a thing little knew the stamp of men who commanded such ships. Had Captain Smith been interfered with he would have promptly told Mr Ismay to mind his own business. Concerning the allegation that, there was neglect on the part of the captain in not easing down the ship when there was ice about, Mr Wilson was not prepared to accept that view, and advised his hearers to suspend judgment till they got more information. There were no more careful men in the world than the Atlantic captains. The Cnnarders had been navigated across that ocean for 60 years, and never a ship had been lost. It was impossible to help what was passed, and the question was how could they prevent such catastrophes in the future. For twenty-five years ho had pointed out the terrible risks ships ran without a sufficient number of lifeboats for all on hoard, and, secondly without having a sufficient number of qualified men to man those boats. There would be no difficulty with regard to the first point, because, he ■observed that instructions had been issued by nearly all the owners to carry forthwith a sufficiency of boats. But what use was it to have enough boats if there were no men to work them?'There should be at least three competent men and an officer or petty officer to each boat. He did not expect that the Titanic carried more than fifty qualified sailors. The Lusitania and Mauritania carried less than 50. There were numbers of stokers and stewards, hut if there were forty or fifty men in each of those departments who ihad never been to sea before, what was the use in treating such as qualified men to work the lifeboats? Also tiie time had arrived when wireless should he made compulsory on all ships. The cost of installation was only about £2OO, ami the operator would cost about £5 a month. If some of the cargo boats in the vicinity of the Titanic had been fitted with wireless it was quite possible every life on board would have been saved. When the Government compelled ships to carry more boats and more men,and he equipped with wireless, they should also compel foreign ships trading to British ports and competing with British ships to come under the same regulations. Mr Wilson paid a tribute to the heroism of the crew after the vessel struck. Speaking of the improvements that had been obtained, in the way of pro-

tooting lift l at sea, Mr Wilson said that in 1885 when the British skip-

ping amounted to some 5,000.000 ton;;, it required the toll of 3500 lives every year to carry on the trade. When he portested, and tried to effect remedies, it was said that these things were the “act of God.” As though God had a particular spite against those who wont upon the great waters! ft was

a significant fact that them efforts for improved conditions had resulted ■ n reducing the number of lives lost from 3500 to 1000, while in that time the tonnage of British shipping had increased to 14,000,000 tons.

After the address, -which was ks tened to with close attention, Mir Sissons sang the hymn, “Nearer, M, God, to Thee,” the audience joinim in the last two verses.

On the motion of Captain Grant, seconded by Mr Singer, the audience carried unanimously a resolution embodying the reforms suggested by tae lecturer, and this will be submitted to the proper authorities.