SEAMEN IN THE MAKING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20520, 22 March 1930, Page 13

SEAMEN IN THE MAKING

TRAINING DOMINION BOYS.

SPECIAL SHIP ADVOCATED.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. GOVERNMENT SYMPATHETIC. [bt telegraph.—own correspondent.] "WELLINGTON, Friday. A proposal to acquire a vessel for the harbour trainirtg of boys for the seaman's calling was advanced a step .this morning when it was suggested by a deputation to the Hon. G. W. Forbes that the Government should take the matter in hand. The deputation was the result of a representative meeting of interested bodies held some days ago, and was introduced by the Mayor, Mr. G. A. Troup. Mr. Troup said the meeting had con : sidered- the question of the training of New Zealand boys as apprentices for service on ships, and he had been surprised to learn from sea captains who were present that it was practically impossible to get- boys trained to become able-bodied seamen or officers because of the lack of facilities. Since the meeting the manager of the Union Steam Ship Company had intimated to him that the company war. willing to hand over the steamer Corinna to be used as a harbour training ship, and that it was prepared to hand the vessel over to the Government free of cost. Exit of Training Ships. | Captain S. Holm referred to the difficulties of securing training for apprentices and said the profession was now practically closed to New Zealand boys. Up to the commencement of the war there was a large number of sailing ships round the New Zealand coast, but the position had now altered. Last year only 16 boys shipped out of the Fort of Wellington. Messrs. G. H. Scales and Company had generously offered the use of the barque Rewa as a gift, and it had been estimated that it would cost £IS,(XX) to £20,000 to fit her up as a sea-going ship. The cost of converting her for harbour training would, of course, be much less. In regard to the Union Company's offer, the Corinna had practically all the accommodation necessary, but she would have to be 'altered in other directions, and she was not a sailing vessel." If the Government secured a training ship there would be an opportunity for about 50 boys to be trained every year. The cost of maintenance would fall on the Government, and the Marine Department could arrange a system of transferring the boys as they qualified to vessels requiring ordinary seamen. "A Government Duty."

Captain F. A. Mclndoe pointed out that in England two vessels, the Conway and the Worcester, were used as harbour training ships and the shipping companies took a percentage of the trainees every year. As there was a number of oversea ships which made their money through New Zealand he had no doubt that if the Government approached the companies concerned they would agree to accept a percentage of New Zealandtrained boys, provided that two years' harbour training should count as one year at sea. "We think this is a Government duty," he said. "The idea is to have the training vessel anchored in the Sounds, so that she would be away from the environment of the cities, where there is so much jazz and sport going on. Such an arrangement would also give the instructors a chance of imparting instructioa and instilling the discipline required. If the boys were taken between the ages of 14 and 16 I do not think they would require payment, so long as they knew they were getting the education necessary to fit them for the seamen's work."

Captain Holm suggested that arrangements might be made for the Government vessels Tutanekai and Maui Pomare to carry half-a-dozen boys each. Eeply by the Minister.

Replying to the deputation the Minister said ho was interested in what, they had said. He agreed with the importance of the point that there was now no opening for boys to go to sea or to qualify as seamen. He would be very pleased to confer with the Minister of Marine in the matter and see what could bo done. He would also investigate the question of taking boys on the Government vessels and enabling a certain amount of training to be done. "I realise that we have to explore all avenues of employment and this is employment in which W6 are directly interested," he said. "It does not seem desirable that we should be entirely debarred from providing our own seamen."

In the course of further brief discussion the Minister said he agreed that the provision of a harbour training ship would meet the position best, provided that full training was given.