ALL SHIP-SHAPE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 252, 21 July 1936, Page 9

ALL SHIP-SHAPE

N.Z. Company of Master Mariners LUNCHEON IN R.M.S. AKAROA As the guests at luncheon of Captain W. G. Summers, commander of the Shaw, Savill and Albion liner Akaroa, a large gathering of members of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Company of Master Mariners yesterday spent a very pleasant hour or more in congenial surroundings. The kindly thought of Captain Summers and the management of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company in arranging the gathering was greatly appreciated by all present. Many matters of professional interest were discussed informally and many a story of sea-going experiences was exchanged at the luncheon tables and in the smokingroom.

In a brief speech Captain Summers said it gave him great pleasure to extend on his own behalf and that of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company a hearty welcome to the New Zealand Company of Master Mariners and others of the sea-going profession who were present. Knowing that (heir calling on tlie sea precluded them from meeting as often as they would like and that, compared witli the majority of those who led a shore life, they suffered from lack of opportunity to exchange views on matters of professional interest, he had invited them on board the Akaroa with that object in view. Captain S. Holm, president of the Wellington branch, on behalf of the New Zealand Company of Master Mariners, thanked Captain Summers, Captain IV. Hartman, marine superintendent at Wellington, and the management of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Line for their hospitality. “Some of us are now following shore occupations—in sailor language we have 'swallowed the anchor’ —yet it is clearly apparent that we one and ah still enjoy meeting on board a ship and having a meal in informal and familiar surroundings,” he said. “Although the New Zealand Company of Master Mariners has been in existence for nine years, this is the first time Wellington members have officially dined afloat, and we are deeply appreciative of Captain Summers’s kindly thought in asking us here.” Captain Holm concluded by asking Captain Summers, when he arrived in London, to convey members’ best wishes and fraternal greetings to the Honourable Company of Master Mariners and tell them that in this distant part of the Empire they wore doing their part in upholding the status of the master mariner.