LASCARS IN THE INTERCOLONIAL TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 270, 14 November 1910, Page 8

LASCARS IN THE INTERCOLONIAL TRADE.

CTo the EUltorJ Sir, —in your issue of the 10th inst., I notice that the P. and O. Company are out with another statement defending their employment of the Lascar on the vessels of their fleet that trade to Australia, and, worse, • luck, are cutting in on our intercolonial trade. This P. and O. Company keep reiterating that the Lascar they employ is a British, subject. Then, for the vessels that are about to came here, they must have got special crews, for formerly most of their crews were taken from the Portuguese settlement of Goa. Then the Company assert that their pet Lascar has the same space as the white man; the difference in manning is proportionately three tp one. Now, ■why not carry white men? The apace per number of men will be less, thereby adding to the cargo or passenger space. Again, the Company ask how many New Zealand or Australian-born would be available to man the vessels of their fleet. I take it for granted they mean those vessels that trade here just at present, end I cay not one, Sir, for the simple reason thai he could not get a job from them even if. he were in London. Any of the Companies that trade to New Zealand or Australia, when they are engaging their crews at any of the British ports, will very seldom, if at all, engage a New Zealander or an. Australian. Apart from that, the P. and O. Co. need not despair at manning their vessels with white men. If I were in London, I'm pretty sure that, without touching sailors or firemen, I could go up to Fenchureh-street and man' every vessel they will have trading to New Zealand, with master mariners, mates, and other junior officers, who would only ibe too glad to do the duties required of an A3. And, as for the engine-room department, one has only to go as far as the head of the Marsh to pick up enough chief engineers and •their juniors that would make a cargo for their ships, let alone man. the engineroom department. Whait axe the motives of this Company in wanting to ibutt into our intercolonial trade! Judging them by their past record, their reasons are purely selfish. This is what the dear old British Tory loves to coll a very conservative company. Years ago, when the principal companies of Great Britain were spending vast amounts of time and money experimenting with the twin-screw means of propulsion, and had found that it was speedy and economical, then did the P. ajnd O. Co. step in and adopt twin screws, and, Sir, I am sure they will be the last to adopt the turbine. They are waiting, as they have waited, till the intercolonial trade was developed by local brains and money. They can see that there is now money to be made "without fear of loss, and deem the present a moet opportune time to butt in. Our local companies can build any vessel that may be required here. Their vessels have suited in the past, and have given a square deal. There is no reason why it should not be the same in the future. But that wont suit the aristuckupracy of New Zealand and Au*-

tralia, vrho dearly lore to ccc their 1 names figuring in the P. and O. paseenger lists published...in. the daily papers. —I am, etc., DAVID P. MUNBO.