OFFICERS' PRESTIGE.

Evening Star, Issue 15138, 20 March 1913, Page 9

OFFICERS' PRESTIGE.

AND .THE BIGHTS OP SEAMEN AND, FIRE.AIEN. In our issue of the 12th lost, there appeared au article from 'The Commercial News arid Shipping List,’ of Sydney, which says that deck and engine, room officers are uneasy on account of the lowering of their status and the diminishing of their influence over both sailors and firemen. Air AV. Belcher called at this office yesterday, saying that he would like to make some reply to that article, and this is what lie dictated : “The article -quotes from a well-known captain in the intercolonial trade some rather peculiar, not to say disparaging, remarks about the alleged infringement by seamen and firemen on what is called the prestige of the officer. First and foremost. I would like to know the standard ot that prestige. AA’lieti that : s discovered, one may he able to express something like a reasonable opinion as to how and in wlml manner tire- prestige of the officer lias been encroached upon. The well-known captain whoso utterances are quoted in the article says: ‘ AA'e feel that the time has come when the ship’s officers of the bridge, deck, and engine room should be heard.

. _. . The attitude of both firemen and sailors has become generally intolerable, and the officers feel that they have not behind them, the moral support of the owners in the enforcement of discipline. . . . Tho rates of pay of some of the firemen and sailors on sonic vessels and in certain circumstances arc frequently on a level with, where they do not actually exceed, those paid to officers. 1 AVhal this captain proposes or intends to do is not stated. It would be interesting to know. He says, firstly, that tbs officers ‘should be heard.’ It- seems to me that they get a very good hearing, and that what* they are squeaking about now is that others are getting a hearing too! Anyone who has an elementary knowledge of shipping laws knows perfectly well that both the masters and the engineers possess enormous legal powers to vex as well as Ir compel, and flint these powers are frequently exercised in the most severe manner against their subordinates. The story about- the action of the. seamen and firemen being subversive of discipline is wrong in fact, stupid, and unnecessary, and a man who is connected with the Merchant Shipping Guild should know belter. It would be just as sensible to argue that be- i cause people occupying high positions arc receiving large wages they are going to wreck their vessels. T maintain that this charge of interference with discipline is sheer bunkum, and it is conclusively disproved by the fact that a master has it in his power to discharge, ar-d if he considers it necessary imprison, without summons or warrant, any seaman or fireman who misconducts himself, whereas, on the other hand, if a master or an engineer so misconducts himself towards a, man as to make his life intolerable. tho man can neither imprison nor discharge the. officer, his only remedy being to quit the ship. The burden of this story as told to the paper by a captain seems to be that the seamen and firemen are getting too much wages. This would-be autocrat, who probably has in the past done as be liked with his subordinates, is associated with a body of men who hitout the other day to get concessions from their employers, going so far that there was nearly a hold-up of the whole of the coastal and intercolonial trade of New Zealand—this, mark you, by men who have hitherto been able to make reasonable terms with their employers by agreementand conciliation. I say that tho complaint about the seamen anl firemen getting better wages comes with a bad grace from the officers who have levered up their own screws. Neither the seamen nor the firemen found fault with or threw mud at the officers when they succeeded in getting better terms for their labor. If the receiving of higher wages, which enhances a man’s independence, is going to bo used as a, stalking horse by some of the autocrats of the bridge and the, stokehold, then there may be. a possibility of retaliation on the part of the seamen and firemen. There is no desire to do anything of tire kind, or to find fault with the officers for trying to do the best- they can to promote their own industrial interests. The men are not- for quarrelling. But why provoke them? It is unnecessary. Knowing that there is,a growing desire on the part of the men to bring closer together all persons employed in the seafaring business, I do not want to see any recrimination. Put if it is going to be the case that the officers and engineers, through their organisation or through the Press, are to make unjustifiable'and wanton attacks on their subordinates, then it will be tne duty of these who represent the subordinate's to let the public know just exactly bow tho officers and engineers have acred in the past, and- it can Ire cleai'y -in-J conclusively shown that the seamen and firemen have taught the officers and engineers the lessons they have learned in the diicclion of increasing their wages and securing other improved industrial conditions.