LAUNCH OWNERS MEET

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 196, 8 November 1927, Page 14

LAUNCH OWNERS MEET

REGULATIONS WANTED

NEW NAVIGATION WHISTLE

The Auckland Hire Launch and Trading Vessels Owners’ Association held a meeting last evening, Mr. A. G. Bertram presiding over a full muster of owners.

It was decided that the Marine Department be asked to carry out the testing of a whistle which has been manufactured in Auckland, thus allowing the whistle to be placed on the market for use. A letter is to be sent to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Customs and the Minister of Marine, “That this association views with alarm the proposal of the Auckland Automobile Association to make the petrol tax universal instead of to the road users only.”

The secretary was instructed to write to the Minister of Marine asking that a set of rules and regulations governing the deck and engine room equipment of trading vessels be published, stating fully the requirements of the department. From a general discussion it was pointed out that surveyors generally had their own ideas as to what was required under the regulations, consequently the owners did not know from year to year what expense would be entailed during the survey of their vessels.

Great dissatisfaction was expressed by members at the way the Marine Department refused to sanction the use of the Navy trawler Wakakura when the launch Speedwell was reported to be overdue. The secretary reported that he had been in communication with the Naval authorities at Devonport, who prepared the trawler for sea, but until instructions from the Marine Department, Wellington, had been received, the Naval authorities were unable to send the trawler away.