MARINE ENGINEERS

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 29, 2 February 1917, Page 8

MARINE ENGINEERS

FIRST DIVISION MEN TO BE

REPLACED

Another.important decision, affecting marine engineers, was given by the Third Wellington ' Military Service Board today. On Wednesday last the board had before it appeals made by the Union SteamShip Company, as employers, on behalf of- Percy John Gibson Ward (second engineer Waimaririo), Arthur Wilkinson Baglcy (second engineer Komata), Eric Allen Cole (fifth engineer Maitai), George Clements AVadsworth (on shore!work), and Alexander Wishart Murray (third engineer Manuka). The decision of the board was that the appeals be adjourned until 2nd.March, 1917, and that- it: was expected that the Union 1 Company would replace the appellants in the meantime. Appellants-were'granted j temporary exemption from service. AN ENGINEER ON SHORE. Further consideration was given the case of Archibald Walker, jun., marine engineer, who applied for exemption on the ground of' public interests, it being urged that appellant would be of more use at sea than in the trenches. Mr. A. Gray,K.C, said .it was an accident that young Walker was in the country at all, and he came. ashore to assist his father, who was surveyor for Lloyds, and who waa appointed a member of the Transport Board. Since the, outbreak of the war,the Board of Trade had advised men of the mercantile marine to stick to their, ships. ■ !. Mr. ■ T.. B. Wallace, secretary of the Institute :of Marine Engineers, stated that there was a distinct shortage of marine engineers in" New Zealand. There was evidently a serious shortage at Home, as engineer-soldiers with the New Zealand troops .were being taken from the training camps and trenches and placed on boats. '

Mr. Mack: Could not Mr. Walker have secured a ship within the last six months had he desired to do so?—I don't know anything about, that. Captain' Baldwin: The position is this: There has been, and is, according to statements made before us, a serious shortage 'of engineers, and yet Mr. Walker preferred to remain on shore. — I. am-'only here to give information- You will.have, to ask Mr. Walker that.,

Decision was reserved until to-morrow morning..... .