MERCANTILE MARINE

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 287, 2 September 1942, Page 8

MERCANTILE MARINE

Prizes For Invention And Deeds Of Merit

The council of the Boyal Society o£ Arts has offered a prize of £5O under the Thomas Gray Manorial Trust, the objects of which are “the advancement of the scie*nce of navigation :uid the scientific and educational interests of the British Mercantile Marine.” The prize is for any person of British or Allied nationality who may bring to the society's notice an invention, publication, diagram, etc., which, in the opinion of the judges, is considered, to be an advancement in the science or practj.ee of navigation, proposed or invented by himself in the period January 1, 1937 to December 31, 1942. Entries which have already been considered by the judges in the years 1937-41 are not eligible for further consideration unless they ‘have since been' materially modified. The council does not. claim any. rights in respect of any invention to which a prize may be awarded. Competitors must forward their proofs of claim, between October 1 and December 31, 1942, to the Koyal Society of Arts, John Adam. Street, Adelphi, London. The 1941 prize was awarded to Air. T. E. Metcalfe, 0.8. E., of Windsor, for the seaman’s protective suit devised by him and'provided by the Ministry of AVar Transport in boats and rafts.

Many well deserved honours have been conferred upon officers and men of the Merchant Navy for acts of gallantry during the present war. Tlie council of the Boyal .Society of Arts, as. trustees of the Thomas Gray Memorial Trust, are desirous of recognizing, in addition, the remarkable skill which is constantly being displayed at sea during the present struggle. They have, therefore, decided to offer an award of £5O to any member of the British Merchant Navy for any deed brought to their notice which, in the opinion of the judges to be appointed by the council, is of outstanding professional merit. The period to be covered by the offer will be the year ending September 30, 1942, and the judges will proceed to consider their decision on or after January 1. 1943. Deeds of the type to be considered in connexion with this offer may be brought to the notice of the council by any person not later than December 31, 1942. They must be endorsed by a recognized authority or responsible person able to testify to the deed to be adjudged.