HONOURABLE COMPANY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 628, 3 April 1929, Page 11

HONOURABLE COMPANY

MASTER MARINERS EXTEND MEMBERSHIP 'I’HE Prince of Wales, presiding In -*■ his office of Master of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners at the annual dinner recently, announced that the membership of the Company would be extended by the election of 100 new members, all of whom would be master mariners resident in the Dominions. The title of Master Mariner is an ancient and very honourable one in the annals of the sea. Since the twelfth century practically every trade and profession, to the number of 75, had its guild or company, all except the calling of the sea, the one profession upon which the might and dominion of Britain had been built up. Until three years ago there was Indeed no representative body which, speaking in the name of the Mercantile Marine, could command that attention and respect which the great Sea service could justly claim. In consequence, it has been a common complaint that the Merchant Service has suffered in comparison with other professions; and that it never received that consideration and respect to which it was entitled. To remedy this, the Honourable Company was formed a short time ago. It received instant recognition in the highest quarters; Lloyd’s placed their hail at Its disposal; the Prince became the Master of the Company; handsome donations poured in; the most distinguished master mariners were proud to be enrolled, and within three years the company has attained a position of authority and prestige which makes it the dominating influence in merchant service affairs. The company seeks nothing for itself—it sole aim being the welfare and improvement of the British mercantile marine. The total membership of 500 was long since filled, but to give Dominion masters an opportunity of being associated with the company, the membership has now been extended for this purpose.