NATURAL EXAMINATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 91, 19 April 1893, Page 5

NATURAL EXAMINATIONS.

The Auckland branch of the New Zealand N__ ._■._! Association has supplied us with a cony of the correspondence thab has recently passed between the Hon. Mr Seddon and the Council of the National Association (Aucklandsection) regarding the resolutions senb by bhe Council bo the Premier, ab bhe time of the contemplated changes in the examination of candidates for certificates as shipmasters and mates. The letter recently received by the Council from Mr Seddon in this connection stated: "The Council are wrong in coming to the conclusion that dispensing with the services of the present examiners meant doing away with the local examinations in navigation and seamanship. The Government have not decided to dispense with resident examiners in navigation and seamanship. There being no such decision it is impossible for the Government to review the same. The Governmenb is fully alive to the facb that every facility and encouragement should bo given to seaman towards their passing their examinations. There being no change of system contemplated there will be no delay, trouble or expense entailed upon candidates, neither will they run any risk of losing their employment, their time, or money; nor will there be any difficulties placed in the way of the seamen rising in their profession, seeing equal, if not greater, facilities will be given to them to pass their examinations, and when passed, their position as masters, mates, or seamen will be improved. The cost has been too heavy, and a large saving can bo effected withoub entailing loss or inconvenience on the candidates." In reply, the Council of the National Association has written to Mr Seddon, the letter including the following:—" The Council are pained at having your denial that there was an intention to do away with resident examiners in navigation and seamanship, in the face of the two telegrams addressed to Captain Tilly and the Hon. A. J. Cadman (copies of which have already' been published). The Council cannot admib thab 'bhey acted rather hastily in passing resolutions stating that no" retrenchment' would be effected' by the then proposed scheme, and they are satisfied that had the original scheme, disclosed in the telegrams already quoted, been given effect to, 'an additional cost would have been entailed on the department ' by virtue of the special salaries and travelling ahd other expenses which would have had to be provided for. With regard to clause 5 of your letter, it has been already shown that the Council was not acting in the dark, but had your own telegrams to indicate the proposed change, and they are satisfied that had such change been given effect to tha greatest inconience would have been caused to the Mercantile Marine. Moreover, as has been shown, very serious inconvenience has already been felt. In conclusion, the Council have been moved in this matter by a desire to see the interests of the Mercantile Marino conserved, but more especially with the hope of securing justice to a very deserving and hardworking class of the community, who simDly ask that the ordinary facilities towards improving their position provided for them in other parts of the empire should nob be withheld from them in this colony."