FIREMAN'S DEATH

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 34, 3 May 1927, Page 9

FIREMAN'S DEATH

ACCIDENT ON TRAWLER ALLEGATIONS BY CREW LAUNCHING OF LIFEBOAT The crew of the trawler Countess have signed a statement asserting that the fouling df .some gear delayed the launching of a lifeboat on Fridaj* afternoon, when Mr. T. S. Veale, a fireman, fell overboard and was drowned. The men declare that the deck hands experienced considerable difficulty in launching the boat owing to the fact that it fouled first the seine net reel and then the fresh water tank. It is also stated by a member of the crew that it took well over five minutes to launch the boat. »Mr. P. O’Shea, assistant-secretary of the Seamen’s Union, said that the incident was another powerful argument for the inclusion of trawlers in the Shipping, and Seamen Act, under which steamers were subjected to a rigid survey of life-saving apparatus. It was by no means uncommon to find absolutely inexperienced and unquali-

tied seamen on a trawler, although that was not suggested in respect of Friday’s accident. REGULAR INSPECTION Mr. R. E. Smallbone, superintendent engineer of Sanford, Ltd., owners of the Countess, said the trawler, although not under the Act, was regularly in- - by the port deck surveyor. Six months ago the vessel was re-certifi-cated after a test which involved the launching of a lifeboat, when no difficulty was experienced. He was definite on the point that all the seamen employed in the firm’s fleet were fully qualified men.