VISCOUNT TRAPRAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27057, 16 April 1949, Page 6

VISCOUNT TRAPRAIN

UNOBTRUSIVE VISIT TO DUNEDIN OFFICER ON CARGO SHIP Viscount Traprain, the future Earl of Balfour, who may sit in the House of Lords when he succeeds to the title, paid a most unobtrusive visit to Dunedin late yesterday afternoon. He came as the fourth officer on the British cargo motorship Port Dunedin, which berthed at Victoria wharf. A serious and unassuming yqyng man of 23, Viscount Traprain, in an interview with the Daily Times, said that he was more interested in seafaring than politics. Naturally, he had an interest in politics, but a sailing career was his first choice and he considered it the more important “ You cannot call the House of Lords anything more than a hobby.” he said. “It does not bring you in any money. Perhaps when I succeed to my father’s title I might enter politics—but my father is still a young man.’’ Viscount Traprain began his seafaring career at the age of 16 when he joined the Royal Naval Reserve training ship HMS Conway. Two years later he was apprenticed to thp Blue Funnel Line and worked on a number of ships engaged on the Far East run.

Early in 1946 he spent nearly three months on the New Zealand _ coast with the Tyndareous and later in the same vear he returned to New Zealand to join the barque Pamir as an ordinary seamen. After sailing to London with the Pamir he left the vessel to study- ac the King Edward VII Nautical College for his second mate’s certificate. He passed the examination at the end of last year and joined the crew of the .Port Dunedin. Viscount Traprain was an apprentice seaman when he succeeded to his present title on the death of his grandfather. The family estate is near Edinburgh, but the title is English.