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"TAE. MarRINE. REVIEW : ao. SOCIETY OF-BELGIAN MARINE ENGINEERS . To improve the stand- ing of the. Belgian marine engineet, bring him in closer touch with the ship- | owner, demand competitive examinations for graded certificates from the govern- ment, and to work together for the general welfare of the craft, the Society of Belgian Marine Engineers was formed in April, 1905. In response to the invita- tions sent out by the ofgan- izers to all known marine engineers under the Belgian flag, twenty-five were in at- tendence at the temporary headquarters of the society at the first meeting. At this meeting. Mr. Adriaenssens, now. general secretary of the society, spoke at some |f length on the grievances of the Belgian marine engineer, the difficulties he had to contend with, suggested | ways. and means of obtain- ing redress, and urged the formation. of: an engineers' society to.obtain. this re- dress. Several of those present spoke on the advis- ability of forming such a society, and at the close of the discussion a list of the qualifications for member- } ship was drawn up as fol- lows: Ist. Any certified marine engineer in Belgiunt. 2nd. Belgians sailing as engineers on foreign ships. 3rd. Belgians having four years' work- shop experience, and at least one year of sea experience. Sea experience to be proved by proper discharges. 4th. Belgians holding certificates for higher studies, Maritime Engineers, and certified experts for the classification of shipping Lloyds, Veritas, etc. By a pro- visional rule in force at the organizing of the society, all engineers having sailed under the Belgian flag were allowed to join till Dec. 31, 1905. Afterwards, only those satisfying foregoing conditions were allowed tc become members. . The aims and objects of the Society of Belgian Marine Engineers, drawn up at the first meeting, are,-- 1st. To improve the general condi- tion of. engineers serving under the Bel- gian flag. 2nd. To gradually form subsidized CERCLE.,.DES MECANICIENS DE MARINE' BELGE. P,. J. GOETBLOET, PRESIDENT SOCIETY OF BE LGIAN MARINE ENGINEERS, schools to facilitate the teaching and preparation of the candidate for examina- tion as qualified engineer. 3rd. To simplify from a theoretical point the program of courses for ma- rine engineers. 4th. To ameliorate the present laws and regulations, etc. - Sth. Exemption from military service. It will be understood that this last item refers to the European system of com- pulsory.. military | service--conscription. The disadvantages of this service to the seafarer are so apparent that no detailed mention need be made of them. Though subsidized schools exist for deck officers, supported by the government, up to the present no, such concession is. made for the marine engineer, he being left to ob- tain the necessary education as best he can, This usually means taking a course of lessons extending over a certain peri- od once or twice a week. Che disadvantage of this system lies in the possibili- ty of the student being un- ible to attend two or three of the lectures in succes- sion, in which case he falls hopelessly behind the others ittending the course and usually has to drop out of the running and make a fresh start. Several other items in the aims of the society are for the express benefit of the families of indigent and deceased members and other benevolent purposes: In May, 1905, a second meeting was held, the mem- bership meanwhile having @| increased to thirty-five. At [this meeting Mr. H. Adri- aenssens, shipowner and cne of the originators of the society, not being ac- cording to the necessary qualifications' entitled to regular membership, was appcinted honorary mem- ber. This decision was ar- rived at 'because of . his known ability and the cer- tainty with which all mem- bers were persuaded of his sympathy towards the sea- faring class as a whole, and as his co-operation would be of much value to: the welfare of the society. Mr. P. J. Goetbloet, naval archi- tect and consulting engi- neer, was approached with a view to of- fering him the office of president, which he was pleased to accept. It has long been the ambition of Mr. Goetbloet to organize a society of marine. engineers, and much has been done by him for the betterment of the condition of the, craft. His sympathy with the movement and wide expefience made him, also, a valuable addition to the membership, The two vice presidents are Mr. H. Klunder, superin- tendent engineer, and Mr. J. De Pamo, consulting engineer. Since the date of its inauguration the society has been gradually increasing in strength, the membership now numbering 280. Apart from the regular business of the society, much time is devoted at the evening meetings to discussions and lectures on matters. of technical interest to the engineer. The instruction and preparation of members of the society as