New Zealand and the Sea

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 968, 10 May 1930, Page 8

New Zealand and the Sea

DOMINION’S DUTY TO YOUTH (Written for THE SUN by "CERBERUS.") SOME time ago a movement was started to provide a ship for the training of New Zealand boys as officers and seamen for our own merchant fleet. This subject was brought before the Hon. G. W. Forbes, who promised he would take the question up with the Minister of Marine. Apparently, as far as the Government is concerned, the matter ends there.

As both Mr. Forbes and the Minister of Marine are farmers, the authors of the movement would have had as much satisfaction had they approached the Tramways Board with their scheme. It may be that the Government, after its dismal failure with the Maui Pomare, is rather wary in acquiring anything else that resembles a ship. But ships, like everything else, need to be managed by persons who know something about them. To give Mr. Forbes his due, he did when the matter was brought before him, promise to confer with the Minister of Marine, thereby exhibiting a little knowledge about things; whereas, had the Reform Party been approached on such a subject, it might possibly have conferred with the Minister of Labour with the same confidence that resulted in the Maui Pomare being placed under the charge of the Cook Islands Department. The establishment of a training ship for those of our youth who desire to go to sea is, nevertheless, a question of vital importance to New Zealand as a nation, and the opportunity is now at hand for the present Government to establish something that will do credit to itself and the nation. Much can be said in favour of the establishment of a Government training ship for New Zealand lads. New Zealand is dependent on the sea for its existence, unless we are to become a nation living from hand to mouth, or by taking in each other’s washing. Our growing export trade, our large import trade, to say nothing of our need for coastal services, makes it imperative that we should be a maritime, as well as a farming race. The present industrial conditions in this country demand that every avenue of possible employment for our growing boys should be explored by our politicians, instead of allowing the youth of the country to become unskilled labourers, and be provided with relief employment by the Government at the taxpayers’ expense. Go on board any ship engaged in the New Zealand trade and you will not find 10 per cent. New Zealanders among their crews. The crew of the Government motor-vessel Maui Pomare can only boast about 10 per cent. New Zealand-born seamen in her complemene, whereas the Tutanekai, which is employed in the lighthouse service, is manned exclusively by New Zea-land-born seamen. The establishment of a training ship, either stationary or sea-going, would give many youths who have “the sea in their blood” an opportunity of starting in the right direction. After two years’ training, the youths could be drafted from the trailing ship to seagoing vessels by agreement with the shipowners. This is done by almost every country that owns a merchant marine. Today, if. a New Zealand youth wishes to go to sea, he has to tramp the wharves from ship to ship, looking in vain for a vacancy. He has no training, and ship’s officers wilj not consider

him. Finally in despair he gives up the hope of going to sea, and seeks employment elsewhere. A boy with two years’ elementary training in a training ship would be eagerly sought after by shipowners and officers alike. Some years ago the Government maintained the Amokura as a training ship, and most of the boys who passed through her are now holding good positions as officers in the mercantile marine. Since the disappearance of the sailing ship from the Tasman timbertrade. the opportunity for New Zealand boys to follow the sea has gone also. In this old fleet of sailers, some of the world’s best seamen were trained. I know at least one Tasmantrained seaman who now holds command of oqe of the world’s largest liners. Another was recently appointed an elder brother of Trinity House. New Zealand's naval hero, the late Lieut.-Commander "W. E. Sanders, V.C., R.N.R., a Takapuna boy. served the whole of his time, and obtained his extra-master’s certificate, out of the old Tasman timber traders. Most New Zealanders who have followed the sea have proved themselves second to none, but alas! most of them stray away from their own shores and remain overseas. The type of ship does not mattei; much, but if a sea-going vessel were decided upon, a small barque of about 1,200 tons would be an ideal training ship. - Such a vessel could be purchased and fitted up today at a cost of £15,000. The cost of running it would be about £6,000 per annum. A stationary or harbour training ship would cost much less, both in initial outlay and in running expenses. The ideal locality for a stationary training ship would be Marlborough Sound, with Picton as headquarters. The magnificent offer of the manager of the Union Steam Ship Company to hand over the steamer Corinna is one which the Government and the people of New Zealand should appreciate. Such a vessel could be reconditioned for a fairly moderate figure. The four-masted barque Rewa, which Messrs. G. H. Scales and Co. have generously offered, is too large for New Zealand’s present needs, and would be too costly to fit out and maintain. Both these offers prove to what extent the shipping companies favour the proposal. Many are of the opinion that a square-rigged vessel would be unprocurable today, but it was only a month or so ago that the steel four-masted barque Star of Greenland, 1,944 tons net register, was sold by the Alaska Packers’ Association of San Francisco to the Rydeberg School Ship Institute of Stockholm, Sweden. This ship has been renamed Abraham Rydeberg, and will be used as a seagoing school ship for training Swedish boys. The price paid for the vessel is not disclosed, but in 1910 she changed hands for £15,000. This fine old sailer was formerly known as the Hawaiian Isles, and was built in Port Glasgow In 1892. There Is no doubt that many such vessels are for sale at a moderate figure today.