PRINCE OF WALES

Hokitika Guardian, 13 May 1929, Page 8

PRINCE OF WALES

M'A.STER OF COMPANY OF .VIASTEP IMALMNI^HS.

AN INTERESTING A01)1!ESS. LONDON, March 20

The Prince of Wales presiding at (he Company’s banquet at Guildhall said :

Willi great diffidence but with great pride, I rise to reply as Master to the least of this Company of the master craftsmen of the sea. I have .several time lately repented the same formula that I rise with great diffidence. I do so most certainly to-night hoeause I am speaking to tin audience largely composed of those who have sailed beifiiro the mast and uho have had to rough it under conditions very much worst;, more strenuous ,and more dangerous than J should have experienced even if I had carried on in the Navy. Mv experience of the sea service is ve 1 "’ limited, lam afraid, to yours, hut what 1 saw of the sea services J enjoyed very much. No one was more sorry to leave the Loyal Navy than I was. IMPERIAL COMPANY. It is only in the last three years that the master manners of England have possessed a corporate body such as this Honourable Company of Master Mar iners. In this connection and in the presence of the l-ligh Commissioners for the Dominions who are here tonight, I would like to point out that it is tlie wish of tin’s Company to make it an Imperial one. With this end in \ iew we have exe::panded the membership by 100, all of whom will he master mariners resident in the overseas Dominion. This l feel, is a great and important move and one that will serve as a great Imperial link. The welcome which we have received from all sides is one for which we arc very grateful. AVe have already to night witnessed proof of this in the shape of this very magnificent piece of plate which has been presented to us by the Goldsmith’s Company. We have also on this table to-night similar gifts from the J .ivory Companies and individuals; we are gratolul for them whatever be their she, as an expression of welcome and admiration to the seamen. THE PRINCE'S THANKS. The Deputy Master lias mentioned flic generosity' of Lord Kothcrmoro. Mis is indeed a generous present t this young Company, and he lias als presented the Company with a magtiiiicent badge of office. I am the proud wearer of a replica of that magnificent present to-night. The Lord Mayor, when lie bad a look at it soma time ago, remarked to me, “You seem to l.e carrying a good many mermaids.” I believe, that when the actual badge of office is ready in a vear’s time it will make the badge o'the Lord Mayor of London look quite stupid. The main object of this Company is to enable the Merchant Sendee of Great I’ritain to do something to os lablish its status. Such an effort mils, ■ome from within the Service.

The Company is intensely interested in the education of tho young officer .from tlie time lie leaves the training school. I am glad to say many shipowners arc paying a great deal ol at tention to that at the present time, and that they have excellent schemes for assisting these boys during that very important period. From what I have seen of these train ing schools and the training of young aliens for tho .Merchant Service they arc all very good, and I think are the incst thing that we could possibly con■••entrate upon.

I, on my part, am ready to do what 1 ecu, as Master of this Honourable Company, to help it on, because its ifviciency means so very much lo this treat Empire.

(tut if 1 had carried on 1 should not have been more capable, more experi •need, or more able to hold the very iin]i position for which you have chos- • n me. 1 am very’ appreciative that on should have done this three years

There is no position more honourable than that of a good craftsman. Cra'lt tradition has been enshrined in the itv Guilds and Livery Companies.

You will agree that in no calling is horoiighness more essential than in lint of the sen. and there is no grcnt•r incentive to good work than when a man is making something l'or his own ' essential daily use and cm which his il'e and that of his fellows may depend. T| u . inst inct and the habit of thorough ess were in the hones of the old sca.u,n. Ships were at sea for months on ml and the only means of refitting or ■pairing was for the seaman to do it emscMi without any help trom the dockyard.

T|j e Prince described Sir Burton Chadwick, the Deputy-Master, as tie ■ atlier and mother ol this Honourable Company, who has done so much work and given up so much time tor it . He handed to Sir Burton a piece of plate in recognition of his work.