TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2671, 29 November 1909, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

The finding of the Nautical Court to the effect that the lost The Loss of Duco was unsea worthy the Duco. when she left Wellington, owing to- the cargo crowded on her deck, again draws attention to the question as to whether the safety of human life is to ranlc ol less importance than owners’ profits. There is an old saying that it is no good Spoiling the .ship for a lia p ortli of tar, and still less should lives be risked for a few pounds extra dividend. The matter is not one in winch the blame can be palmed off on t-o the master of the vessel who allowed' the deck loading. However conscientious a captain might he, he would not retain his billet long if his conscience tended to keep profits down, and in any case an employee should not be expected o lav himself open to his owner s consule in'the interests of the public or anybody else. The duty of saying whether a vessel is fit to leave port rests with .the Government official appointed for the purpose. In the case of tlie Duco, it the Surveyor .of Ships, Captain Stringer, had reported to the Collector of Customs that she was not seaworthy, the latter would have refused to clear her. Captain Stringer stated at the inquiry tliat had lie known the. Duco had ten ton's of coal on deck he would not have let her leave, but this is no excuse for the vessel being'allowed to go out of

port. Either Captain Stringer or some responsible official should have made it their business to know the condition of every vessel leaving the harbor, and. luid "this been insisted on the tragedy would have been averted. If Captain Stringer neglected his duty his is the blame, but if his work rendered the proper inspection of every vessel impossible, then the Government is at fault, and the sooner a proper system of survey is inaugurated the better.