Something About G. And E.

Defence Of The

Coral Mariners

Ship Certificates

Letter to the Editor IWISH to correct an impression that tends to form when one reads your columns on Gilbert & Ellice Islands shipping—i.e., the operation of uncertificated vessels.

The vessels that operate within and without the Colony fly the Blue Ensign and are therefore Govern ment-owned, fulfilling a job of work which even private enterprise wouldn’t have on again. And, pro vided these vessels continue to fly the Blue Ensign, and private" firms refuse to operate shipping in the Colony, the G and E Government can please itself as to the type of certificated men they wish to carry.

It is only fair to suppose that the Government would not employ mad men or persons without any know ledge or skill of the sea and ships.

For years now, until quite re cently, most of the shipping in the Colony was operated by men who possessed Fiji Marine Board certi ficates, both on deck and in the engine-rooms. Some of these men, with Fiji Marine Board certificates, commanded their vessels under the

White Ensign during the war and transferred (still in command) to the Blue Ensign after the war. To my knowledge, all G & E vessels in normal operation have carried a man in charge with a certificate of some sort.

It is true that the engine-rooms of these vessels in some cases carry uncertificated engineers, because qualified marine engineers refuse to serve in the tropics in such vessels.

However, in all instances, such un certificated chief engineers are guaranteed by the Fiji marine engineering firms which are respon sible for the overhaul of the engines in the G & E Islands fleet when in Fiji for overhaul.

Some years ago, the then Marine Superintendent of the Western Pacific High Commission—an extra master and a full commander in the RNR—advertised for foreign going engineers. The only response he got were British naturalised sub jects who had German and Polish certificates—men who did one tour of duty only and did not seek a re-engagement.

At this time there was mooted an idea of bringing out to G & E Colony English marine officers with the necessary qualifications. This idea was laid to rest by the then Marine Superintendent, not only be cause of economy but also with the contention that men who have had

experience only in fog-bound con ditions would not be able to com pete with men raised in and abound the coral of the Islands. It was then, and only then —that the validity of Fiji certificates was re cognised by the WPHC in a foreign going capacity. A comprehensive re port was drawn up advocating the use of the Fiji certificates and de tailing the different rates of pay.

Not one of the vessels in the WPHC fleet carrying Fiji certificates has been lost or suffered a major engine defect that has necessitated a tow back to Fiji. In the two major marine disasters in Gilbert waters, involving the loss of both vessels, foreign-going masters were in command.

The issues have no doubt been clouded to a certain extent by a beach-combing variety of master mariner—foreign-going men who drift from job to job, and in some cases have wrecked ships or been connected with a shipwreck. These are the types who sometimes sit on the beach and mysteriously assert that the WPHC are operating un certificated vessels.

I am, etc.,

Old Resident.

Auckland, NZ.

ti Pastor and Mrs. G. E. Mitchell, of the Seventh Day Adventist Mission, have just retired after nearly 30 years’ work in Papua— they arrived in Sydney harbour in January, exactly 28 years, to the day, after they had departed for the mission field. Both are certific ated nurses of the Wahroonga Sanatorium, and both combined medical work with their church work in Papua.