LIFE-BOAT WOMEN
WANT BIGGER VOICES. At least two women in England are not only daring enough to go to sea in a lifeboat, but are qualified to take charge of the boat as well.
One of them, Mrs IT. May,' of Plymouth, at present a stewardess on the s.s. Akaroa, decided to qualify as the result of a chance remark made to her by a ship’s officer. “When I was on the Jervis Bay,” she said in an interview, “the third officer said he didn’t know why women couldn’t get lifeboat tickets. “I don’t know what a lifeboat ticket is,” I said, “but if you'll teach me I’ll have a shot at it.
“ He taught me well, and the result is that to-day I hold the Board of Trade Life Boat Certificate.” Although she has been at sea only four years, and the examination is a severe one, Mrs May gained her certificate with flying colours. A thorough knowledge■ of boat equipment, names of sails, veering and tacking, and how to navigate was demanded of her, and finally she was taken out in a boat in the Royal Albert Dock, London, and asked to shout orders to an imaginary crew\
“My answers were all correct, but I was told by the examiner l i;should have to shout louder in a case of emergency,” she added.
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Bibliographic details
Waipa Post, Volume 48, Issue 3471, 26 May 1934, Page 8
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225LIFE-BOAT WOMEN Waipa Post, Volume 48, Issue 3471, 26 May 1934, Page 8
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