New Zealand Company of Master Mariners

Lloyds List – Monday 23 June 2008

IT’S THE way of the world. You are a captain of industry, richly rewarded with a vast package of shares and a mind-boggling salary, accompanied by colossal annual bonuses and other financial accoutrements which your board of directors has been persuaded is necessary to prevent the ‘world-class’ manager you are going off and accepting something equally juicy.

Well, in this risk taking world of corporate excitement, you are forced to go against your better judgement and take a risk.

It turns out that you have made a colossal cock-up, which costs the company millions in terms of reputation and share value.

So you are forced to depart, but fortunately with a massive financial cushion of cash and unimpaired pension rights, while your current enormous bonus is available to gild the lily and ice the cake. It’s a hard old life.

You are the captain of a ro-ro ferry, coming into a tight port with difficult wind conditions. In your risk taking world of operational excitement risks are what you are paid to take, but on this occasion you miscalculate the strength of the wind and you make what is called in the profession a “hard landing”, holing the ship and damaging the ramp.

The company is generous enough not to fire you, but busts you back to second mate after a suspension while the accident is investigated, your salary plummeting from $86,000 per annum to $63,000.

I suppose you might consider yourself lucky not to be prosecuted for criminal damage, or worse, if one of your passengers had tumbled down the stairs It’s a hard old life.

Increasingly, the world is being divided into those who we believe to be risk takers, but are tremendously insulated against the consequences of any risk, and those who, because of their profession, take real risks every day of the week, and are punished severely if they ever make a mistake.

And one of the problems is that among the former category, and indeed among those who really do not take any risks whatever, there are those calling for higher penalties and more rigorous prosecution under criminal law of those in the latter category, whose jobs entail the risk of a mistake or a miscalculation.

Curiously, the sort of financial insulation enjoyed by captains of industry does not appear to be available for captains of ships. It’s a hard old life.

On Tuesday 17 June 2008, the Master and the General Secretary represented the Company at Government House, Wellington at a reception for representatives of the 150 organisations in New Zealand privileged to have Vice-Regal Patronage.

His Excellency, the Hon Anand Satyanand, thanked everyone for the mostly voluntary work that each organisation did for the New Zealand community.

The reception also marked the launch of the Governor-Generals new standard which was raised for the first time in the presence of all attendees. This standard replaced one which had been in use since 1937.

The Governor General’s flag was originally instituted by the Admiralty in 1869 and was intended for maritime use exclusively but subsequently flown on all occasions when he is present and also over Government House when he is in residence. A number of different designs ensured but in January 1931 a new vice-regal flag was designed partly in order to meet South African objections to the use of the Union Jack and partly to symbolise the Governor-General’s new status as the King’s personal representative. It was a uniform design for all Dominions but with the appropriate name. It was adopted in New Zealand in 1937.

The new flag reflects elements pertinent to New Zealand. The first quarter represents the southern cross, then three ships symbolising the importance of New Zealand’s sea trade; in the second quarter is a fleece representing the farming industry. The wheat sheaf in the third quarter represents the agricultural industry, whilst the crossed hammer in the fourth quarter represents the mining industry.  
  2008 -

  1937 – 2008

  1908 – 1937

  1874 – 1908

 1869 – 1874

The Christchurch Branch held its mid winter dinner at the Canterbury Club on Thursday the 19th June.

31 members, wives and guests braved a frosty Christchurch winter night and met at 1830hrs in the club bar for drinks before going into the dining room at 1900hrs to enjoy a very nice set meal.

During the meal I presented new member Peter Aubrey with his membership certificate.

I congratulated and toasted Malcolm Pearson who was awarded a QSM in the Queens Birhtday Honours List.

An evening much enjoyed by all.