H—ls

The continued shortage of certificated marine engineers has compelled the Department to issue temporary permits for engineers not holding the requisite Certificates of Competency. Each application for a permit is considered on its merits, and a permit is granted only if the Department is satisfied that the person for whom the permit is required is reasonably experienced and competent. A permit is granted only for a limited period, and is terminable as soon as a duly certificated officer is available. In present circumstances, where more positions afloat exist than certificated men are available to fill them, it is inevitable that the small and, therefore, less-comfortable ships suffer a chronic and acute shortage of properly certificated men. Owners, understanding the reasons for the dearth of engineers for small ships, continue their efforts to improve the amenities of the living-accommodation aboard ship, and a good deal of worth-while improvement in the living-quarters of small ships has resulted from this stimulus of man-power shortage. It is the invariable policy of the Department to encourage improvements in the hygiene and comfort of officers' and crews' accommodation, which will raise the standard of physical health and morale. These are indispensable factors in any efficient and contented mercantile marine. International agreement upon safety measures for merchant shipping is at present based upon the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, which was signed in London in 1929. This Convention was given early legislative effect to in most maritime countries, and in New Zealand by the Shipping and Seamen (Safety and Load Line Convention) Act, 1935. At the request of signatory Powers, the United Kingdom Government has convened a Conference in London which will revise the 1929 Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea. The Conference was planned to open on the 16th April, 1948, which, appropriately enough, is the thirty-sixth anniversary of the loss of the White Star liner " Titanic " by collision with an iceberg in the Atlantic. The Marine Department, in response to the invitation of the United Kingdom Government, has submitted proposals for the consideration of the 1948 Conference, and delegates comprising representatives of the maritime unions and shipowners, as well as technical officers of the Marine Department, will attend the Conference. In the application of radar to merchant shipping, New Zealand will be represented by Dr. E. Marsden, a former Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, who is now resident in London. It will be the task of this international Conference to forge in the new Convention an instrument which shall turn to future profit the bitter experience and losses of merchant shipping at sea during the past twenty years. This Convention, if ratified by the maritime Powers, will be the modern charter of safety for all men and ships in all oceans of the world. INSPECTION OF MACHINERY Steam Boilers, Air-receivers, and other Pressure Vessels The following statement sets out the number of inspections made during the year ended 31st March, 1948, of fired boilers, air-receivers, and other unfired pressure vessels (Group "A"), and corresponding figures for 1946-47 : 1947-48. 1946-47. Fired boilers .. .. .. .. 4,583 4,593 Air-receivers .. .. .. .. 4,853 4,154 Other unfired pressure vessels .. .. 7,002 6,905 Total inspections in Group "A" .. 16,438 15,652 The inspections include 87 new power boilers, aggregating 1,399 horse-power, manufactured in the Dominion, and 6 new boilers, aggregating 555 horse-power, imported from abroad.

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