MISSSON OF THE TRAMP SHIP

Evening Star, Issue 19351, 10 September 1926, Page 1

MISSSON OF THE TRAMP SHIP

AM ESSENTIAL TO TRADE It has sometimes been remarked that it is a matter fur regret that tins British Isles have never been invaded in modern times, because the bitter experience would have reminded the inhabitants of their good fortune. m being islanders, in contrast with the unhappy experience of, tor instance, Belgium, wnich has been “ Uic cockpit of Europe.” The cycnic might also suggest (writes Archibald llurd, in the ‘Argus’) that it is a piiy that the peoples of hue British Empire have not from time to time suffered Irom starvation in order that they may more adequately appreciate tire services winch tramp ships render them. AVe are all improved by the power, speed, and oomton. ot the great liners in which we travel for business or pleasure; we appreciate tiie regularity with which they sad, whether their accommodation be full or hali-emptv, and ffheir holds contain much or little caigo. How many of us ever g.ye a thought w the tramp ship, which carries the built cargoes of international trade, moving its harvests and carrying the raw materials of industry—ores, t.mbcr, wool, cotton, and no on? If it had not been for the tramp .ship manned by British seamen the 'British Empire would probably never havo had any existence, for it was tho tramp ship which invaded the eras ond oceans of the world, opening up unknown lands, developing trade, and discovering new countries ter settlement .and development. William Cunynge, of Bristol, Robert Thorne, oom. ..a a a/...-, ..third ■Uianoellor, Anthony Jcnkinson, and p. host of others, who laid tic Inundations m international trade, might all be described as tramp ship owners. I'l ey put forth into unknown noas, their little ships loaded with British produce, which they bartered 1 m overseas markets, reluming homo with ihc tpoils of tlicir enterprise acquired at no mean risk of life wid lilieity. For tho merchant in those early days waa usually also tho ship owner. He would buy a small sailing ship, fill it willi ? no Ps* and I,hen sad to distant ports, hazurding his all with intrepid courage. EjOMANCB OP THE sea.

| The. tramp ship owner of ttwiny »in Iho direct line of dosoent of these .pioneers. The ships which he manages may belong to a limited liability company with dozens ot sbaioholdors, but they still represent the roiiiJinoc oi ibu sea.- f j?hc officers Hid inc.ii of Mtali a.,vessel, unlike the crew of a g.eat liner, never know when they sail from llieir : homo ports what course their voyage nay eve.uiually take, 'ibo ship owner, studying economic xnovcvneiri.s troni day do day on Iho door of like Bailie, in the 'hr-art of the (V.tv of London, may arrange te carry a. ca.go to Dclagoa in Soulli Africa, possibly at a loss, hoping that something will -turn up later, enabling him to retrieve the fort ones of Ibis pari of tho voyage. lOn reaching Uelagna Bay the master ot tho snip may receive ordeis te go to Ualcutta, Bombay, Rangoon, Sydney, or a Now iloii-find port, and beto.c 1m sees his homo again he may have been a'most romd the gfobe, picking up cargoes on Jus wiy. Sir William Keardon bmiib, who begun iitc in (lie, lit tin .Devonshire village of App euoro, has related ibat as a boy lie made a voy-an-o •• before the mast” which lasted Clg.ltonn monito. 4)dicers and men of. such arc somoiinios away from lieir homes lor even longer periods, dodging m and out nr ports tiro very names of which are hardlv known to the man m the street. U'is in this way that ithn harvests ot (be world are moved, tramp ships competing keenly for carimes, for there is no monopoly | of w’a carnage, lor many years J.ntten (.ramp ships have been ms)>onsiblo for tho movement of about one-lhird ot the worlun bulk trade Tliey have sncixicded in maintaming tliia Mip.o.maey only by Jhe cdioiency* and cluapncas of the eervicet. the) .oci li'.r. It, IS a matter not merely ol we,lloiiml übips and far-seeing ownership, hut ateo of Htole/l sramanship, and, above all, of the charnel or of Hie seamen, ‘lucre is little romance about lie im it r- Kl upon liner, which sails in aeemxktnee with a, fixed sehednle of times from port to port, •Ini i. the tramp ship keeps alive ibo .atmosphere of rotninee. It is Kina 11, H is s.ow , breaiisc spe-ui is eoslly-and it malms no .nreteneo t-o nnd mi for appoaranee. Jt is ibe genera; rei-vani of prodiici'is and eonsuiliers ot all ■milinns, going anywhere and doing «uyihiug, and' a 1 wins being operated on s ender ,iiiarir : ns of profit, and l>s. lor Ihe tramp ship 1 * is outside the great shipping ennte.retrees; it t.akes wiial cargo 11. eau get for ifie best price obtainable. AVhile Ibo e.nplam is on hi- v.,yage will) a full cargo of Mine com.iKHtev. a, wvrreily may ante in Ibis arii-de. in some pan. ol the world, ond suddmly be wiM receive orders which w II dv.fe.it anv siirmi e v.hich he may bale ■termed as io bis deslmillion. All Hie lime lie is engaged in lighting the incalculable. ] orcen of *Nalurc, gales ami 1 cmpes.ls, logs and tJioals. A I’t),' ; T-'V A R REVIVAL. When lire war eaine te an end and the 'groat liner companies begun I" 1 ,11 , v to'inp ships to make, good Hie hr see which tie') had suffered, it. was said Uni the day ol ihe Lamp ship owner was over. [Jut the .venliet "mm since been levit-ed. 'Jhere is ,i Sonly of work for the gimte Hup 'vfneli /ails rtguliii ly from port to inn xvit li iaroii/s of goode be longing to many owners ami i 's'.died lor many (lolls, but it is rci.'ihft'U that the world cannot do without usmels l ') c ury buis cargoes from one port lo anothe.r in aivurdanec with the mods oi trade—coal, giuin, wine, cotton, liax, wool, sugar, lea, ujtraU.s, and olbor lb ngs whicu ■men must luue, and wiiii'h it is cunuuiieiit 'lo carry net in parerds, but in vast quauliric„s. As a result iff the war tramp tibips of greatly isuperior de.-ign and «quipwcuit are being built, Hups even oi 10.001) lons, with a sjKxnl of leu knots, wheiea-s t-even or Cigln, knots was, the rule before the war. The office.a and men uj longer live m He di.scuiufort willi which their lathers were familiar. They enjoy a gcod many ot the comforts of itl«. but Uh? leimu ee and souse of adventure remain, luring boys to adopt the sea as their c-.lU:ig. .Owing to the world-wide duptw-inii of trade tne tramp ship hue fallen on evil days. Ship owners say that most voyages tor many montnu past have rcfailH'd only in 10.--, oi at any rate no profit, and that they have Lee it iihle to keep their ships .mining and their officers and men umploved, only bcoauso in vhb mure proq«:roi.» limes, they imlt up rotefvee on which they are no\v able to draw. It would have been a bad day for producers amt corr-umem througheirt the world if ship owncis had not practised thrift, for in ’ that event no mean jpq.it Oi the wmnago of the world would now be tied up in harbor in wasteful idle-ih-..5. Fortunately scamoii, having witnessed •with tbeir own eyes the ck>loc.U.on of trade HiroughoiK, Hie would wbUk the war canned, have cxomi.ed a wise restraint in pressing jheir demands tor higher wages. As it is tho Briusii seaman is better paid than tho iscanwn of any other coimiry of the Old World, and kfi food, com!oil, and safety lire more adequately .protected by official TCgnlation. t.igns of tho revival oi shipping, and particularly tramp shipping, arc of good emen to producers and consumers throughout tho world. They have nothing to gam, ;hut everything te lose by the continuance of a depression, which would lead to a gradual withdrawal of tramp ships from the s-va. and the consequent shortage of carrying power. The idcvl condition is that ,the. vvuumc tel tonnage, afloat sliould bear p close relationship to (the cargoes to bo carried, for only to long as slipping pays ;i reasonable profit will the, supply of efficient and well-ioundcd vessels be. maintained.