Person:Thomas Fernandez (1)

100 years ago - From Herald files

Sir,-Permit me through the medium of your columns to draw attention to a species of tyranny exercised by a certain insurance office in this city which as it is altogether unjustifiable, must be my apology for troubling you.

A few weeks ago I was engaged to take the bargue Rebecca to Sydney, and had engaged a portion of the crew, when I was informed by those representing the owners that they could not get the vessel insured if they retained me in command, and they were therefore reluctantly compelled to cancel my appointment and my urgent solicitations failed to elicit the name of the objecting office.

This, however, is immaterial as precisely the same tactics were adopted while I was in command of the SS Triumph, but in that instance, however, owing to the manly stand taken by the owner, Mr. George Fraser and the kindly interest displayed in the matter by the manager of the New Zealand Insurance Company in Sydney, they did not prevail.

My contention is this: that if an insurance office objects to any duly qualified master, they should at least should give some reasons for their action and I challenge anyone to prove that any act of mine has caused loss or damage to any vessel I commanded.

I could give some curious illustrations as to how differently some masters are treated by the authorities, but as I should have to use names of absent men I refrain from doing so. I have no doubt, Mr Editor, that your sympathies will be in the behalf of shipmakers who like myself are at any time liable to be boycotted by the insurance offices allowing themselves to be made the instruments of private malevolence of individuals, and I shall feel infinitely obliged would you point out the course to be pursued by master mariners in the above contingency in order that they may be enabled to earn a living in the profession to which they have devoted their lives.

I am,

Thomas Fernandez November 27, 1886.