MERCANTILE MARINE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 22 December 1933, Page 5

MERCANTILE MARINE

OFFICERS’ CONDITIONS CRITICISED » PETITION BEFORE THE HOUSE (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, 20th December. In the House of Lords, Lord Howe presented the Mercantile Marine petition, and moved for a public enquiry into the conditions of service of navigating and engineering officers in the Mercantile Marine. He said that the grievances were not due to the shipping depression, though they were accentuated by it. The best shipowners were well aware of the position of their officers, and were prepared to abide by the result of an impartial inquiry. He instanced the case of the second officer of one of the biggest lines to the East, with a maximum salary of £4 4s a week. He was not entitled to a pension. Mercantile Marino officers were nothing more than casual labourers. The apprentice system was abused, and a large proportion of the boys from the training ships had left the service owing to the unsatisfactory conditions. Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, and French owners paid higher wages to their officers than the British.

Lord Essendon said that an inquiry was unnecessary. The National Maritime Board was the appropriate body to deal with the matter. Oil the whole, the wages were reasonable, and officers could not expect more in the present conditions.

Earl Beatty supported the motion, which was rejected without division.