“Master of Merchantmen”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 279, 15 February 1928, Page 1

“Master of Merchantmen”

NEW TITLE FOR PRINCE OF WALES King’s Tribute to Empire Seamen By Cable. —Press Association. — Copyright. LONDON, Monday. IN order to mark his appreciation of the work of the merchant service in peace and war King George has conferred the new title on the Prince of Wales of “Master of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets.”

TTIS MAJESTY has long considered the question of how to link up the merchant services with the other Em-

pire services by making Royalty the titular head. He found a difficulty in choosing the title. An exhaustive search of historical records failed to reveal a precedent, but the King believes “Master” to be the most suitable title. The Prince in future will wear a merchant master’s uniform at merchant service functions. It is understood that his new title was conferred on the King’s sole initiative. His Majesty was insistent that it should not convey any suggestion of military rank, or imply a connection, direct or indirect, with the Admiralty. He devised the title himself after rejecting the alternatives of “Commodore,” “Governor” and “Warden.” The authorities consulted considered it impossible to improve upon the King's suggestion in the matter. How the Prince will interpret his new office remains to be seen, but it is known he is very keen and intends to make the position a real one. “We are more than satisfied with our new Master: He will be a live wire,” said one who has had the opportunity to know. The Prince becomes titular head of the entire merchant fleet of the Empire, from ships like the Aquitania to the most humble barge.—A. and N.Z.Sun.

l HONOUR APPRECIATED

IMPORTANCE OF SERVICE RECOGNISED

'Apparently the term 'navy’ is used in a sense unusual to New Zealand, where the officers and men of the merchant fleet are referred to as the ‘merchant service,’ ” remarked Captain B. Burk, secretary of the Merchant Service Guild, this morning. “The bestowing of the new title can mean little beyond being an action definitely and permanently recording appreciation of the efforts of the merchant service generally, not only in the war, but in their efforts, spread over hundreds of years, in maintaining Britain’s prestige on the high seas. As such it will be accepted and appreciated generally by those British subjects who go down to the sea in ships.”