SHORTAGE OF SEAMEN

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 93, 18 October 1915, Page 8

SHORTAGE OF SEAMEN

POSITION MORE ACUTE. While there is yet no cause for alarm respecting the shortage of seamen in New Zealand, the position is daily becoming more acute, and it is predicted that the shortage will have a serious effect oh shipping if the present state of things continues. Speaking on thb subject to a- Post reporter to-day, Mr. W. T. Young, general secretary of the Federated Seamen's Union, said the position was undoubtedly more acute now than was the case some three or four weeks ago. This was greatly due to the fact that a large number of seamen had gone into camp during the past few weeks to join the Bth Reinforcements, and also to the fact that a good many of the New Zealand seamen picked up by Australian trading vessels at the various ports in New Zealand were discharged in Australia and reverted to the Australian coastal trade. The Australian seamen who were engaged in other places were discharged in Australia also. Both these facts were tending towards a shortage for the mercantile marine. "We axe now really commencing to feel the pinch of things." continued Mr. Young, who went on to remark that if matters continued as at present, he anticipated that by Christmas a number of vessels would probably be laid, aside for the -want of men. In conclusion, Mr. Young said he estimated the number of seamen who had enlisted from New Zealand, either for the naval reserve or land forces, at fully 1000. From theee figures it would be realised that a shortage was inevitable.