THE WARATAH INQUIRY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 248, 25 February 1911, Page 5

THE WARATAH INQUIRY

NEWSPAPER COMMENT. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, February 23. The Globe says that the fault in the Waratah must have lain in a hidden defect. The court was clearly of opinion that all the facts had not been revealed. It was remarkable that, as the vessel was of a new type, the captain's correspondence contained only trivial details. The court's remark that "the inference was unfavorable to the owners" was a very severe censure, on which comment was unnecessary. OWNERS' DIFFICULT POSITION. Received 24, 0.50 p.m. London, February 24. The Shipping Gazette, commenting on the "Waratah enquiry, says that while the Court apparently believed the owners' evidence was less complete than it might have been, it must be remembered that the owners in such cases were facing a position of considerable difficulty. There was always the question of legal responsibility to be considered. It was impossible to suppose that, however inconclusive, the moral of the case would be altogether lost to naval architect, shipbuilder, or shipowner.