CALL OF THE SEA

Evening Star, Issue 25770, 17 April 1946, Page 5

CALL OF THE SEA

MUST BE IGNORED FEW GRANGES FOR NEW ZEALANDERS Opportunities may be fewer, but The sea has lost uoue of its glamour lor New Zealand youth. Apprenticeships for aspiring merchant service officers are now almost impossible to obtain from the Dominion, but a considerable number of young New Zealanders refuse to accept defeat and try to enter their chosen career " through the hawse pipe " by signing on as boys or ordinary seamen. The war has ended with no scarcity of merchant service officers. In addition to war-time staffs, shipping companies have been reinforced tvy officers now demobilised from active service with the Royal Naval Reserve. Nnr is future construction likely to create a shortage, for, according to the masters of visiting overseas ships, there are waiting lists of British youths seeking apprenticeships. Young New Zealanders are at a disadvantage. Most British ships carrying apprentices work from the United Kingdom, and companies are unwilling to accept responsibility for youths wTuwa homes are not in Britain and who would be an anxiety and liability when a ship was turning round or temporarily laid up in British home ports. Parents, too, would be faced with substantial expenses, not only in meeting premiums and normal costs of cadetship, but also in maintaining sons during long leaves and ship turn-rounds. One estimate is £SOO sterling. LITTLE HOPE. No indication of the post-war apprenticeship policy of major shipping companies has yet been received in New Zealand, and youths who inquire at shipping offices are usually told that no opportunities exist at present. The Marine Department also receive* tegular inquiries. Master mariners, frequently "confronted with eager youngsters anxious to join their profession, hold out little hope for improved post-war apprenticeship possibilities for New Zealanders. However, in many cases applicants are advised to get in their sea-time aa ordinary seamen when a period of four years complete time on articles is an equivalent pre-examination qualification.