3c
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Any further communication should be addressed to
THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY,
(MARINE DEPARTMENT), And the following letter and number should be quoted :-
M.8299.
Talographic Address.
BOARD TRADE. MARINE, LONDON.
BOARD OF TRADE
(MARINE DEPARTMENT),
7, WHITEHALL GARDENS.
LONDON
18643
18th April, 1916.
REC
REO 19 APR 16
S.W.
Sir,
Gov.
In reply to your letter of March 24th (No.13255/1916) transmitting a copy of a dispatch and enclosures from the Governor of Hong Kong with reference to a suggested amend-
ment of the Regulations for the examination of Masters and
Mates, I am directed by the Board of Trade to state, for the information of Mr. Secretary Bonar Law, that they cannot agree with the suggestion made in the correspondence enclosed therewith, that the service of all watch keeping officers is equally valuable as experience necessary to fit an officer for the duties of a manter. The Board are
advised that the Third Officer of a steamship is, while on watch, often under the more or less direct supervision of the Master, and they do not think that the mere fact of rating the Third Officer as "Supernumerary Second Officer" would qualify this officer to be a Master of a British ship.
The Board do not regard such service, whatever the rating in the articles of agreement may be, as affording the responsibility which they regard as an essential qualifi-
there- cation for a certificate as Master; and they do not, fore, think it desirable that service as Supernumerary Second Officer, whether in charge of a watch or not, should be accepted as qualifying for examination for a Master's
The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office,
S.W.
(Over)