Ships and Seamen

Hokitika Guardian, 29 September 1922, Page 3

Ships and Seamen

ANNUAL DEPARTMENTAL REPORT. The annual report ol the Marine Department shows tuat the total number of seamen engaged and discharged at the various ports during tile year was 1(1.925 and 17.575 respectively, as against 23.125 and 22.90! respectively during the. previous year. The decrease is attiibuted to the laying up of ships consequent to the trade depression. The total amount paid to sick and injured seamen under the provisions of the Shipping and Seamen Amendment Act 1911 .was £15.228. as compared with £20,288 in the previous yenr. During the year 430 candidates passed their examinations and 121 failed. Of these who passed. 232 were masters, mates or engineers ol seagoing ships. ! acre masters of fishing boats or of cargo boats midi r 25 tons. 29 were masturs or engineers of steamers plying within restricted limits. On December 31st last there were on the register of vessels in the Dominion 101 sailing vessels of 23.20! tons register, and 101 steamers of 08.705 tons register. as compared with 103 sailing vessels of 21.223 tons register, and 381 steamers of 04.837 tons register at the end of the previous year. The number of seamen and hoys employed on board was 3148.' as, eomiiar.il with 3270 at the end of 192 P. The sum of Cl 1.311 was received as light dues on shipping during the year. The principal examiner of masters and males (Captain G. 11. Hooper) states the the total number of candidates who sat for thn ordinary examinations during the year was 104. and the total number of failures was 49. Of this number 51 worn eamli-' dates for foreign going certificates, nod 39 were candidates ior Home trade crtilieates. There were also 14 candidates for restricted limit eertilientes and 38 candidates were examined in the form and colour vision. The percentage of passes in the lorm and colour vision was 83. Four candidates were found to he subject to defective vision, and three wore found tn b subject to colour blindness. During rile year three examinations were held for tile higher examination for a certificate as extra master. The only candidate who was successful in passinn the higher examination was Mr aTr. Noes of Lyttelton. As .this examination involves a \know;lodge ol naval architecture and stability, also of elementary science and advanced magnetism, in addition to the ordinary" subjects. it is not surprising that few are successful in obtaining this certificate.