CO129-559-18 Employment of certificated officers on vessels holding Hong Kong passenger certificates 19-11-1936 - 19-11-1936 — Page 13

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of the local Merchant Shipping Ordinance of 1899 and

which records:·

"if the ship carries more than one mate

with at least the first and second mate

duly certificated."

In this connection it has been for many years

and is common knowledge that the uncertificated ratings

who perform a second mate's watchkeeping duties on the

vessels referred to in this Guild's communication of the

9th October last, are, in fact, acting as second mate of

such ships. This procedure would appear to be a direct

contravention of the intention of the above sub-section

of the Ordinance.

That these ratings are signed on the

vessels' Articles of Agreement as "Chief Boatswain,"

"Gunner" or some other title which does not include the

term of "mate" is simply a form of evasion which would

also appear to be an irregularity in view of the

watchkeeping duties which they undertake and which Government

is now asked to take note of.

I have, etc.,

(SD.) . . KIRBY,

V.

Secretary.