BRITISH SEAMEN AND THE MERCHANT SERVICE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12911, 28 February 1906, Page 3

BRITISH SEAMEN AND THE MERCHANT SERVICE.

The diminution of British seamen and their prcgi*ssiv« displacement by oiuers. sayf a special col respondent " of the '* Times,"' appear to be due to several causes. Like most other human movements, it is found to be a complex matter when it is examined ; and I can "only touch °" a . fe V" l u --">t s - The very eitent and distribution cf British shipping is or.e cause. Thus the Oriental trade accounts for the Lascats, jmd voyajjim; between foieia.ii ports for a large "mimher of the foreigne! s. win, are most numerous in vessels under agreements opeued in pcrts outside the Biitish Islands. Of the men of all ratings so. employed, moie than half are foreigneis: of the petty officers from 60 to 78 per cent.; of the able seamen 77 per cent., and of the firemen 86 percent, are foreigners; and a very large proportion of .these are under agreements which are not only opened but. also terminated abroad. The snip which carries the commerce of the world is not the liner, but the British tramp; and she picks up her crew. here, there, and everywhere. Foreign, crows ara & coroljary of .übiquity.

Apart from this general in'lueuce. which is not a matter to fret about, the causes may be classified into two sets depending respectively on the initiative of il) the ship-owners. (2) the seamen. The informiiiou 1 have obtained in shipping quarters is broadly to the effect that shipowners often /prefer non-British seamen, and that British seamen, for their part, often prefer to stop ashore. Both have their reasons. Ship-owners are chiefly influenced by ci.st. British crews are more expensive than Dutch or Lascars. That is to say, they cost more at the moment, though, pissibly. their services may be worth more, and they mav be more economical "hi the e::d." That depends. I imagine, very largely on the nature of the trade in which they are engaged. There are i owners of all sorts, ships of all sorts, trade !of all sorts, terms of service, seas and weather of all sorts. Expensive crews i may be good economy in some circumstances and not in others. The difference in cost is considerable in regard both to wages arid to food. Current rates of wages vary in different ports: but in the class of vessels chiefly concerned the rate for British sailors is mostly £4 and £4 10s. and for foreigners £3 5s and £3 15s a month. Lascars get very much less, ■but more are required to work the ship. I have exact particulars of a small vessel trading to the East, which has tried all three crews for the same vovage. The monthly wages were :—British" <18). £81; Dutch 118). £6B ss: Lascars {37). £6O 13s. 'Cere was n further difference in the cost ' f froil of os Sd a day in favour cf the Lascars against- the other two, while both cf st the same for this item. The pro- i p»:ti-n;il cost works out thus:—Lascars 100. Dutch 118. British 131.

Preference is also given to non-British seamen on other grounds. Thev are more docile.'iess tn.ubhsnnie and given to drink, and tlity turn up sober at the proper time when the ship is-going to sea. On the other hand, they are "'Jess efficient in a serious etmigcncy: they have less courage, i detei initiation, and initiative. j On the part of the men reluctance to ] go to sea is attributed fT several causes. ! In the first place, they are in demand j ashore for special and Veil-paid services, j Tsm< they arc emphyed in considerable ] numbers in shipyards "and on high buildings. On one occasion the entire crew of an English .ship left her at New York to take work at very high wages on some ; " sky-scraping" buildings in course .of erection. When they do go to sea they prefer oth;r services to the ocean voyages. It is in the foreign trade that the great diminution hss taken place; in the steam- ! ships engaged in the home and coasting trade theie has been an increase of men. The conditions are different, and more attractive. Many boais are engaged on a regular weekly service: the men are paid by the week on a higher scale and find themselves in food. Fishing nnd yachting are ether services which draw men off. Hut apart from "counter-attractions, there are some inherent reasons for disliking the foreign-going merchant service. One of these, on which I have found great stress laid by those who know the matter from iuside. is the accommodation and the meals.

So long as foreigners are willing to undersell British seamen they will be preferred by some owners. But that is not the case with all; and the point does not touch the British seaman's own unwillingness to go to sea- even at superior wages*. With regard to that it seems clear that training ships fcr boys, however good their, work, will not render the service more attractive or keep grown men in it. On the contrary, such boys, being decently brought up. are more likely to be.particular. Can the service be made more attractive. Undoubtedly the accommodation and living conditions might be greatly improved. If it is said that British shipowner? are already sufficiently hindered and handicapped in competition, I am not concerted to deny il. or. on tne other hand, to drop a tear over their unhappy position. . No employers, except cclligry owners, have less need of pity. 't is not a matter of sentiment, but cf" business.