GREAT IMPERIAL LINK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20708, 4 May 1929, Page 19

GREAT IMPERIAL LINK.

DOMINION MEMBERS. (Fitoii Our . Own Correspondent.) j • LONDON. March 21. At the dinner of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners, the Prince of U ales, who presided, announced that it had been decided to make the company an Imperial one. “Although this great Empire was created by an instinct for the sea and the love of r.dventuro that we have known for centuries,” he said, “ it is only within die last three years, that the master mariners of England have possessed a corporate body such as this Honourable Company of Master Mariners In the presence of the High Commissioners from overseas, I should like to point out that it is the wish of this company that it should be an Imperial one, and that with this end' in view we have extended the membership by 100, all of whom will bo master mariners in the overseas dominions.— (Cheers.) . This is 3 .btcat and important move, and one that will serve as a verv great Imperial link " —(Hear, hear.) ■ ' His Royal Highness has dual’ qualifications for presiding it the dinner, for not only is be Master of the Company but also Master of tin Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets On behalf of the' Goldsmiths’ Company, Sir William Jackson Pope, the Prime-.-Warden, presented to the Master Manners Company a piece of silver-gilt plate to adorn the new hall, and the Prince, accepting it, expressed the keen appreciation of the Master Mariners. It took the form of a rosewater dish bearing the name of the company in enamel. The Deputy Master, Sir Burton Chad wick, M-i 5 ., announced , that no had received from Viscount Rothermere a letter enclosing a cheque for fIO.OOO, to be used in any way that- the company thought fit. Lord Inchcr.po had sent a donation of fftOOO towards . the fund, which is being r ised for the construction’' of a hall.

The main object of this company. 1 ' said the Prince, in the course of his speech, “ is to enable' the Merehnnl Service of Great Britain to do something to establish its status. Such an effort must come from within the service, ft is entirely a commercial service, and therefore has no fostering by (he Admiralty or any other Government Department, although master- mariners are ahvavs grateful for the help given by the Admiralty and the Board.of Trade. “The company is .nteusely interested in the education of the young officer from the time he leaves the training school. I am glad to say -many shipowners ar» paying a groat deal of attention. to‘ that at the present time, and that they have excellent schemes for assisting these boys during that very important period. From what 1 have seen of these training schools and training of young sailors for the Merchant Service, they are all very good, and I think are the finest thing that we could possibly concentrate upon.

'* lift us assure you." .lit* iiiMftl. thnf I fin my part Jim rfaily to do vvlmt I can ns master of rliis lionmiraliU company to tie!11 it on. because its *-f!ir*icnc - v means very tniidi to this crcat Empire."