SCARCITY OF SEAMEN.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13434, 5 November 1907, Page 3

SCARCITY OF SEAMEN.

In common with ether ports in the Dominion, says the "Otago Daily Times," there is a comparative dearth of seamen.. at this l port, a state of affairs which; has existed for months 1 past without exciting- more' than passing comment, chiefly because of the small number of sailing vessels visiting-. this port. On her last visit to Dunedin the: barque Onvx had: difficulty in getting -a full crew, and the departure of the barque Invermark was delayed several days lor the same reason, and even masters of oversea steamers experience difficulty in procuriog seamen to fill the vacancies caused by desertion, aiid it is- a well-known fact that rather than allow seamen to be sent to goal many a- misdemeanour is condoned solely on account of the difficulty in getting men to fill their places at short- notice. Captain Strang, marine superintendent for the Union Company, states that no difficulty has been experienced so far in manning the Red Funnel steamers,where it. appears that the supply j ust about meets the demand. In this respect, however, the Union Company is favoured by 1 circumstances which do not obtain on vessels running under other flags. It> maintains large -shore stafls at various ports, from which vessels can. be ' recruited at- short notice,' whilst another source of supply is provided by-.lhe continual lay-up of vessels for survey and overhaul. At the present moment-the-steamers Moura, Manuka, Pat-eena, and Taviuni are laid up at Port Chalmers, and there is ample reason to believe t-hati the task of recommissioning them all within a week would be attended with considerable difficulty at the present juncture, particularly so if the shore stalls and ere to of other vessels belonging to the company were excluded 'ijs possible sources of supply. New Zealand is not singular in this respect, however, as the same complaint has beeii made in" British and Continental ports for years pact. To meet the difficulty and ensure a steady supply of recruits to man its .fleet, the Norddeutscher Lloyd Company keeps- two Training ships in commission,' and British shipping companies have also endeavoured to overcome the difficulty in a similar manner,', but with Uss success. Yielding to the- importunities of British -.vhipowners, the Board of Trade took the matter up a few months ago. and. i? at- the present n.ioment engae<j upon a scheme which it is hoped will prove a solution .of the precent difficulty. ' It is also u signiiicant fact that the scarcity of seamen maintains a relative proportion to the dearth of officeri;, and a casual glance at the whole position points to a groyning disinclination umongst the rising generation to adopt- a ctafunng life a.« a profession, and it is a wellknown fact- that those Avho condemn it m»! itre generally those who have served in it lougtU,. officers «s ft {ire eager to leave it for-a- nhure bsrth carrying a similar rate of pay.