N.Z. SUPPLY OF SHIPS’ MATES

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27675, 3 June 1955, Page 7

N.Z. SUPPLY OF SHIPS’ MATES

SUGGESTED INCLUSION OF ALIENS MERCHANT SERVICE GUILD OPPOSES MOVE (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 2. There were probably sufficient certified second officers to fill the vacancies in New Zealand ships, but because of unfavourable conditions they had taken shore jobs, said the general secretary of the New Zealand Merchant Service Guild (Captain W. R. Williams) in a telephone interview from Wellington today. He said the guild would oppose proposals that the New Zealand regulations be ratified to allow aliens to sit the examination for the second mate’s foreign-going certificate, because it felt young New Zealanders should be encouraged to fill the vacancies. “There should be some investigation into the position,” Captain Williams said. “In England foreigners can sit for the certificate provided they can speak English, but that provision has not been mentioned here.” The shipping companies had made the suggestion to the Marine Department, he said. One large company alone had 22 to 23 vacancies, and its ships were sailing without third officers. “I know of that many with shore jobs,” he added. The reasons for the men’s dissatisfaction were mainly monetary. A man paid £250 to £3OO to qualify as an officer, and then was frequently' paid less than an ordinary seaman. There was no gap for responsibility.