CENSUS OF SEAMEN.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20924, 3 August 1933, Page 15

CENSUS OF SEAMEN.

BRITISH MERCANTILE MARINE,

The 1932 census of seamen, issued by the Board of Trade, while it does not include data relating to the present state of the shipping industry, makes some interesting comparisons between employment of ships and men in the three years 1930-32. It should be borne in mind, however, that the last census was taken on June 15, whereas the two preceding enumerations were made on March 31 in 1930 and April 26 in 1931. The June figures, therefore, owing to the fluctuations of seasonal occupation, probably show a lesser tonnage employed in the Indian and Australian trades, but more in the ( coastal passenger services than the [ earlier returns. j

The outstanding feature of the three records is the downward tendency in the tonnage and personnel engaged in sea trading. On June 15 last there were, excluding fishing craft, yachts, etc., 1400 sea trading vessels of 100 gross tons and upward without crews, their total net tonnage being 3,G00,000. On April 26 of the previous year the number of ships was 1300 and the net tonnage 3,020,000. The number of men actually employed in seagoing ships in the foreign, coastal, and home trades at the three censal dates were 150,730 (1932), 109,211 (1931), and 194,633 (1930). Taking the 1932 figures, it appears that the number engaged in the foreign trade was 131.926, of whom 80,728 were British, 7705 foreigners, and 43,403 lascars. In the coasting trade. 8020 seamen were employed, against 673G at the previous census, and 10 784 in the home trade, as compared with 11,926 in 1931.

The deck department absorbed the greatest proportion of labour, the number for all seagoing vessels being 39.070 British, 2634 foreigners, and 15,073 lascars, while the totals for engineroom hands and stewards were, respectively, 31.804. 3833, 17,346, and 28,268. 1718. and 10.984. The number of British seamen engaged in the deck department decreased by 9.7 as compared with 1931, and those employed in the engine-room by 8.5, the corresponding decreases in the foreign element being 34.5 and 23.5 per cent., while in the case of stewards, the British decline was 8.4 per cent., foreigners 20.8, and lascars 1V.4 per- cent. It is interesting to note that only six alien seamen were employed in passenger vessels in the coasting and home trade.

TAX ON FUEL OIL

ORDER FOR DIESEL SHIP. Coast Lines. Limited, of London and Liverpool, notify the cancellation of their order for a new 1400-ton Dieselengine ship, which was placed recently with Messrs Henry Robb, of Leith. The ship would have been the biggest Diesel-engine ship built for the British coasting line trade. The cancellation is stated to be clue to the new tax of Id a gallon on heavy oils which is equivalent to about £1 a ton in the case of fuel oil, and which would have added 40 per cent, or more to the fuel costs of the new ship. The cancellation of an order for a 450-ton motor-vessel placed with the Ardrosson Dockyard Company was also announced recently.

NEW SIGNALLING COD!

A notice in the Now Zealand Gazette dated July 27, 1933, contains the following additional rule for the conduct of examinations of master.-; and mates:— "Durum the period from Seotember 1 until December :•;). 1033, both days inclusive, every candidate for any certificate of competency as master or mate will be required to pass an examination in both the present international code of signals and the new code which comes into operation on January 1, 1934."

MAHAXA REPORTS. The Shaw, Savill and Albion Company's steamer Mahana. en route from London, has reported that she expects to arrive at Lvttclton on Sunday evening The vessel will complete discharge at Port Chalmers and Bluff.

THE CANADIAN CONSTRUCTOR

The Canadian Constructor is to arrive at Lytteiton this morning from Wellington. She is to sail to-morrow for Dunedin and Bluff, and is expected to sail finally from Bluff on Monday for New York, Boston, and Montreal.

THE KENT'S LOADING

The New Zealand Shipping Company's vess<J Kent, which reached Oamaru on Saturday night, was expected to leave there yesterday for Bluff, Timaru, Lytteiton, Wangantu, and Wellington. She is expected to leave Wellington on August 21 for Southampton and London. THE PORT HOB ART. The C. and D. Line's Port Hobart, after loading at Timaru, was to leave there yesterday for Port Chalmers, Bluil Lytteiton. and Wellington. She is due at Wellington on August 9, and is to sail three days later for London, Avonmouth, Liverpool, and Glasgow, via Cape Horn and Dakar. TAINUI DELAYED. Delayed by rain at Auckland, the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company's vessel Tainui will now not leave there until to-day for Timaru, Lytteiton, and Wellington. The vessel is to sail from Auckland finally on August 23 for Southampton and London, via Panama.

NEW HARBOUR

INDIA'S GREAT PORT

It is reported that India's great new port on the Vizagapatam coast, which was constructed at a cost of £4,000,000, will be open next November to oceangoing steamers not drawing more than 27 feet.

MELBOURNE STEAMSHIP CO. The Melbourne Steamship Company, Limited, advise that, subject to audit, the directors have declared a dividend on preference shares of 3 per cent., and on ordinary shares 3 per cent, making 6 per cent, for the year on both preference and ordinary; payable August 16.

NGAHAU LEAVES KAIAPOI. The auxiliary scow Ngahou after waiting since last Saturday for favourable weather, crossed the Waimakariri bar at noon yesterday, and left for Wellington with a cargo of about 50 tons of potatoes and onions.