BOY SAILORS WANTED.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 31, 31 October 1907, Page 10

BOY SAILORS WANTED.

A committee appointed by the' British Board of Trade lias como to the conclusion that, of all the schemes for increasing tho number .of ,boy seamen, in the mercantile marine,'the best is to givo State assistance to approved training institutions. The number of indentured boys actually employed in tlie merchant-service has decreased from 18,303 in 1870 to 5069 in 1905. There is no, question about there being an ample'supply of boys wanting to go to,'sea. Tho difficulty is that the-majority of shipowners offer them no opportunity, and'this is due to the replacement of. sailing- ships by steamers, and the increasing' severity of• .competition. ' ■ ' . , ; ' The output •of boys from training ships' .'and sea training homes is restricted • owing to lack of funds, and since the Exchequer .makes-provision for of. technical'instruction in "various-other trades, the committee is of opinion that : a capitation .grant of £20 should be made in respect of' each'boy trained for the sea service,'and who actually makes that his profession. It is: estimated that ! if'this-be done 5000.boys altogether "will; bo trained every v'ear, and that ship owners will' be more ready to take' boys who know something about tlieir work and discipline.' ' . ' ' '! The important, consideration is, of course, 1 that-tho Navy can draw on the merchant' service in case of emergency. • There were 39,711 foreigners, or 18.03 per cent:, engaged in the British- mercantile marine' in' i!) 05, although' the foreign element does hot appear-to be increasing;,; 1 The demand for men for the Royal Navy has increased considerably in recont years, the number now on the books being 128,000,' against (38,800 in 1891. Six years ago one in thirty-eight males over ■ fifteen years' in" tho United Kingdom belonged to. the- sea-' faring profession; and' the: opinion was'expressed during-the 1 committee's investigations that 300,000 ■ Br.tish subjects are employed at sea. Owing to various circuriist.ances a proportion of'the foreigners' serving ..in British vessels liiust be regarded as a constant element in the merchant service, but tho- committee states that it is' not considered a national danger. 1