FUTURE OFFICERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 722, 23 July 1929, Page 1

FUTURE OFFICERS

THE NORggggIII‘BERLAND’S} S ‘. HANDYMEN ALL i The days when future officers 2 climbed their way to the bridge ‘ through the hawse-pipe are fast disappearing. but no less practical is the training given cadets on the Northumberland, the big cargo 1 carrier of the Federal Line, at 1 present in port. Thirty-three active and very healthy young men who have selected the sea for their calling help to man the vessel and in the course of their cadetship they pass through all the phases of everyday life on board ship. In the words of Captain H. L. Upton, master or the vessel, “whatever job has to be done they do it.” Boys who come from the Worcester. Conway or other training ships pass through a period of three years’ cadet—ship, and those who come direct to the ship require an extra year before sitting for a. junior officer’s ticket. The boys are divided into two watches and each watch is subdivided into Port A and Port B and Starboard A and Starboard B, and the routine is so arranged that all take an equal share in the various phases of ship work. XVhile halt" the watch acts as junior officers the other half takes pant in the ordinary routine work, taking turns at the wheel, look-out, and other work such as would fall to the lot oi! a seaman. In the organisation of the watches something similar to the perfect system is observed, each watch and half watch having its senior cadet. “A good deal of responsibility is placed upon these senior cadets,” said Captain Upton. “We find that responsibility is fine training.” As an illustration of the range of work done by the boys, the captain mentioned that if a. stay was carried away any of the senior boys could splice it. Also, any of them, when their cadetship was completed, would be qualified to sit for a. wireless operator’s ticket. It would be diflicult to imagine anyone more competent than Mr. Smith to superintend this branch of the work. With 22 years’ service in the ‘Royal Navy to his credit he has lserved upon the Alexander, Implacable, Crescent, Impregnable, Dominion, ‘and also on the training ship, the old ‘Victory. During the war he served in the Dardanelles. 1 Incidentally it might be mentioned that he fought for many years in the inavy and marine boxing champion,ships as a middle-weight and lightheavy, winning the latter title three times. Of this system of training oflicers there could be no more ardent chamipion than Captain Upton. “I can think or no disadvantages that are ex perienced by a ship manned by these boys,” he said. In their sports and pastimes the captain takes a keen interest. In their Soccer team he occupies the onerous position of. goalkeeper, and in his cabin are various pictures of the cadets’ rowing-crews and trophies won at various regattas. It is not difficult to understand the confidence that cadets and crews have in him, or the respect in which he is held. Two rows ‘of war decorations on his uniform, some of which are given only for distinguished service, are the only indications of his war service. He admitted having engaged, as the commander of a. “Q" boat, 'in that delightful pastime of hunting German submarines, but beyond that would offer no further information.