THE MERCHANT NAVY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 187, 1 December 1941, Page 4

THE MERCHANT NAVY

PAENGAROA Y.F.C. MEMORIAL PROPOSAL At a recent meeting T)f the Western Bay of Plenty Young Farmers' Clubs, a remit was tabled from the Paengar.oa club suggesting that the Dominion executive take steps to provide a memorial to the men of the merchant marine who have lost their lives in the carrying out of their duties.

Mr Gordon Spratt, explaining the remit said that the proposal was for each member of the clubs throughout New Zealand to make monetary donations stretching over a period of years until the sum of £10,000 was raised. This capital would be invested and the interest used to educate the sons of men of the merchant marine who have lost their lives in the present war, Mir Spratt stressed the importance of the Avork of merchant marine was doing in keeping the sea lanes open and enabling our produce to be transported overseas. He instanced Flock House, but said that ,in its case the boys were trained to be farmers. The Paengaroa proposal is to. provide the means for educating boys who wash to follow in their father's careers. He thought there would be sufficient funds to enable two boys each year to complete their examinations and enter into a cadetship with the shipping companies. In fifeen years that would mean . 3u officers and eventually 30 captains capable of carrying cur produce to other countries. One of the conditions would be that the boys would have to serve aJ least three years in the New Zealand trade.

After a lengthy discussion it was decided that, as the other clubs had not previously had an opportunity of studying the proposal, a copy of the remit be sent to' all clubs and the matter be reopened at the next quarterly meeting.