The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-09-17 00:00:00

THE SHIPMASTERS' ASSOCIATION.

DIALOGUE BETWEEN A SHIPMASTER AND A MEMBER OF
THE ASSOCIATION.
S.—Good morning, Mr. —. I have heard that you are
a member of the committee of the Shipmasters' Association.
Pray how is that institution coming on, for I have been told
that it is going wrong altogether?
B.—lndeed ; what is the point in which you have heard
that it is going wrong ?
S.—Why, it is this. The masters cannot see any use in
joining it. They say they can derive no benefit from it.
That is the reason why I consider it as almost broken up.
IL—From what you have just said I perceive that although
you are a shipmaster you know little or nothing of the
principles upon which the Shipmasters' Association is based.
Give me your attention for a few minutes, and I will explain
them to you, and after you have heard what I have to say I
have no doubt that you will become one of its members.
S.-1 am very willing to listen, for I really have no preju-
dice against the association.
R.—l am glad to hear that, for prejudice is the most
formidable enemy we have to contend with. The association
originated in most praiseworthy motives. It is intended
solely to promote the interests of the shipmasters, and those
connected with the sea, by means which I will point out to
you before we separate; and commenced its operations only
after an immense expenditure of labour and money. Its
first object is to disseminate among shipmasters useful in-
formation on all points connected with their profession, and
next to extend the same advantages to their crews; not only
that, but to better the condition of the seamen by every
means within its power. So you see the Shipmasters' Asso-
ciation will be useful to every class of seamen.
S.—Many people have doubts as to your ability to accom-
plish anything in improving the condition of the seamen.
IL—Those doubts have no foundation to rest upon, be-
cauSe they are started by parties who dread the consequenceS•
should the present system be changed. The fact is that a
few interested individuals connected with the offices for
shipping men have raised the cry about the docks, that we
are doing an evil instead of a service, because their profits
will be injured or destrOyed by an alteration for tile better.
You must admit that there are many gross abuses attached
to the present mode of shipping men.
S.—There are many evils I confess, and I wish an effectual
remedy could be found for them.
R.—All that we are contending for is that the evil should
be expelled, for nobody can be found to defend it. Yet in
grappling with it we have met with the strongest hostility.
We were prepared for some opposition, but we did not con-
template that our own friends would be parties to it. We
did not think it possible that so many of them would be, as it
were, leagued with the shipping masters in the way they seem
to be. However we must encounter their prejudices, and
correct the evil as far as we may have the means. You may
depend upon it that sooner or later it will be cured.
S.-1 can see the difficulties you have to grapple with, and
when I conic to consider I believe your object to be very
good. But tell me now what are the other objects of the
Shipmasters' Association ?
IL—Another very important end that we have in view is to
band the shipmasters together, as they are in many other
trades and professions, for their common benefit. There is
no body of men among whom there is a greater necessity for
union and concert than among the shipmasters. No class
requires it more than the sailor. In other pursuits they can
always meet together for debate and discussion, but the sailor
has not the same facilities, inasmuch as he is away for,
probably, the greatest part of the year. He, therefore, has
need of a representative at home—a body which is able to
maintain and protect his various interests with success during
his absence.
S.—l confess Ido not at present see the use of our having
representatives when we are aboard.
R.—There, again, you show a want of information, in the
absence of which you can scarcely be expected to appreciate
the value of the institution. You may derive great benefit
from the system of representation. The other day, for
instance, an attack was made by her majesty's ministers upon
the Merchant Seamen's Fund, and if there had been no con-
stituted body to expose the unfairness and injustice of the
attempt, what could you have done? Truly nothing what-
ever. All your efforts would have been powerless because
detached and unconnected. Fortunately the Shipmasters'
Association took up the cause. We called the attention of
the mayor to it ; the mayor, at our request, called a public
meeting, and in short we raised such a noise apout the ears
of her majesty's ministers, that the Merchant Seamen's
Hospital Fund was rescued from danger. Ministers through
this opposition abandoned their intention of amalgamating
the fune9of Liverpool and other ports into a common fund
to be administered in London. If they had succeeded, they
would have created offices, and had the patronage ; the
claimants upon it would have difficulties multiplied in the
way of their rights, and the weekly pensions now received in
Liverpool would have been seriously reduced. Now, sup-
pose you were from home, and you read in the papers that
this institution had been so attacked by her majesty's mini-
sters, should you not feel some anxiety about the fate of the
Liverpool Merchant Seamen's Fund, in which you are of
take
e tou remember
the
course interested? On the other hand, would it not be satis-
Afacsstooreyiattioonyowuoruldmithat_a
ntdh e
leaveShipmasters'
cause,
undone to protect you from injury ?
S.—l grant that in such cases the plan is excellent ; but
are what you have mentioned all the advantages that would
arise from joining you?
R.—Certainly not. Let us suppose a case. Suppose that
you, as a commander, are in circumstances of considerable
difficulty in a foreign port, and that the feelings of the Con-
sul are adverse to your interests from being influenced by
foreign mercantile prepossessious. Suppose you find your-
self without a remedy, unable to obtain redress, and, in short,
actually trod upon. In such a case you have, by joining
this association, the remedy in your own hands, certainly in
au indirect way, but nevertheless effectual in due course
of time. You just represent your complaint to the associa-
tion and from the moment it was received, do you not
think the ears of the Foreign Secretary would be made to
tingle with it? No complaint would be allowed to rest quiet,
provided it were well authenticated, by the Shipmasters'
Association ; and the British Consul, if he were the party
offending, would be taught a lesson through its agency which
would prevent him from temporising with the interests of
any individual because he happened, at that moment, to be
unable himself to protect them. •
S.—That is an important feature that I was not aware of
before. I begin to think that the Shipmasters' Association
has larger purposes than are generally known.
R.—lnstances of that might be multiplied ad infinitum:
and as you seem struck with it, I will just mention another.
Do you think the river Plate would have continued blockaded
as it was for several years if the members of the Shipmasters'
Association had then been banded together ? Do you think
they would have rested quiet until Lord Palmerston had
done something to remove that blockade which so seriously
injured our trade ? We would have raised the *hole country
before we would have consented to allow British property
to lie rotting there and British subjects consigned to ruin in
consequence, year after year, without an effort being made
for their reliet. In this instance, again, you see you would
have had a powerful body carrying out not only your own
wishes, but absolutely defending the interests of our mer-
chants, brokers, and general dealers.
S.—That is a strong reason, then, why all those classes
ought to take an interest in your proceedings. Do they all
know the principles of the association ?
R.—l really believe they do not ; and lam rather disposed
to blame the committee for not giving sufficient publicity to
the objects of the association, and to the advantages to be
derived from its working.
S.—The utility of the association will unquestionably be.
very great in all the cases you have mentioned, but still,
something more is wanted to make it popular among the
entire body of shipmasters. I understood there was to be
attached to it some other body, to which one might pay a
certain sum either monthly, quarterly, or annually, as a pro-
vision, in case of death, for our widows and children. This
is a point on which hundreds of shipmasters are as dissatis-
fied as myself.
IL—Then, from want of information, you have again done
the association some injustice. There would undoubtedly
have been a branch attached to it with this special object,
but there happens, at this moment, to be a Marine Society
for the same purpose, with between £lO,OOO and £ll,OOO in
hand ; and that society is already so far in connection with
this association, that the secretary of it is the master of our
rooms. The rules of the society have certainly been of an
exclusive character hitherto, but for some weeks past they
have been in the hands of a committee, undergoing revision.
They will be immediately brought out, members will be
more readily admitted, and they will then have such advan-
tages as they seem to desire in the Shipmasters' Association.
Therefore, as there is this society already in existence, and
so far connected with the Shipmasters Association, we do
not consider it necessary to establish another of the same
description. . I should feel exceedingly glad if you would
enrol yourself a member of the Marine Society.
S.—Have the goodness to inform me what are the benefits
to be deriveafrom this Marine Society.
R.—The pensioners upon that fund are the widows and
children of deceased members, and they receive £lO, £2O,
£3O, or £5O a year, as the case may be; but by a new scale
now in preparation, and which will be published in a few
days, you will at least derive a benefit from joining it quite
adequate to the money you invest in it, besides having an
interest in the large sum which is already to the credit of the
society.
S.—ls there no provision for the members during sickness?
R.—Certainly there is, and in every case where assistance
is absolutely called for. A committee composed of such
men as William Potter, Esq., and Alexander Smith, jun.,
Esq., enquire into the merits of each case, and they admi-
nister assistance accordingly, I believe. Besides all this, the
committee of the Shipmasters' Association is the acting
committee of the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners
Society ; and in case of actual distress by wreck, they pro-
vide an asylum for every sufferer. Indeed, the committee
are very glad to have the opportunity of rendering them a
service ; and they have relieved many who have had the
misfortune to be placed in such circumstances during the
brief period they have had the management of the Liverpool
branch of that exceUent institution.
S.—Well, sir, I feel strongly interested in what you have
told me,. and I should be glad to do something towards
assisting you in all these things, but it will be out of my
power, as I am going to sea almost immediately.
R.—Your going to sea will not deprive you of the power
of promoting our views provided that you do not, as I am
sorry to say many do, as soon as you get on board forget all
about the institution. Many sailors on entering their ships
appear to think that they carry all their interests with them,
and it is not until they become involved in difficulties of
some sort or other abroad, that they feel the necessity of
having some one at home willing to be actively concerned for
their welfare. The Shipmasters' Association offers a bond
of union between its members abroad as well as at home,
and by a very simple process, which is attended with no ex-
pense and very little trouble.
S.—How?
R.—The explanation is easy. There are now over one
thousand members, a large proportion of whom have fur-
nished themselves with the flags of the association. Of
course when you become a member, as I hope you will for
your own sake, you will possess yourself of a flag. If you
happen to be placed in difficulties of any sort abroad, you
will hoist your flag ; wherever you may be, (for the associa-
tion does not limit its operations to Liverpool ships,) one or
more flags may be hoisted in answer to yours. You thus
know that the captain or captains answering are members of
the association ; you go on board ; you lay your case before
them, and receive from their hands whatever your necessities
require, either in the shape of advice, or in the shape of sub-
stantial assistance. You may also write direct to the associ-
ation, and if the case presents any difficulty, whatever it may
be, if it is consistent with the objects of the association, the
committee will adjust it for you without any cost to you for
their trouble.
S.—That is excellent.
R.—Yes ; and by keeping it constantly in mind, and
availing yourself of every opportunity of acquainting those
about you that there is such an institution at home guarding
and watching over their interests, you will be doing all that,
as a member, you are called upon to do.
S.—Shipmasters are always abroad or moving about, and
how can they attend to the management of the institution,
seeing that they are at home but a very little time?
IL—Many of our merchants and brokers, and resident
subscribers, seem to imagine that the shipmasters can them-
selves carry on the institution. but this is a mistake. Ship-
masters may be compared to birds of passage ; they are here
to-day and gone to-morrow ; and, of course, when they re-
turn home, they wish to be in the bosom of their families
without being perplexed with the affairs of a public institu-
tion. The active management of it, therefore, must remain
among the resident members; they must take upon them-
selves all the trouble and responsibility of carrying it on. The
shipmasters are consequently relieved from all care on this
account ; all that they are asked to do is to give their coun-
tenance to the institution, and to assist it by sending home