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Union Steam Ship Employment cards for seamen and engine room ratings [1st series]
Descriptive Data
Archives IdentifierAF022Date RangeCirca 1918-Circa 1967DescriptionThese cards are employment records for seamen who were employed between c. 1918 and 1967 and engine room ratings for the same period.
A new card sequence was begun c. 1966, AF023 Union Steam Ship Employment cards for seamen and engine room ratings [2nd series] and it appears that the employment cards of those still working at that time were transferred into the new sequence.
The cards are in two different formats – hard-copy and microfiche. 15 index cards from the B, C and H surnames which were not microfilmed are located at the front of Box 2 (item AF022-7).
The cards record full name, date and place of birth, previous ship or employment and rating, and after c. 1945 they also include Union No. and service details, including vessel, date and place of joining, rating, character (sobriety, character, ability), date and place of discharge, and reasons for discharge.
This last column is the Reason for discharge and typically contains comments on work habits, temperament, misdemeanours, political affiliations, etc. There are multiple cards for some staff, and a few have newspaper articles attached referring to prosecutions.
Quantity (Linear Metres)7MediumFileSystem of ArrangementAlphabetical by nameCollection TypeWellington Museums Trust
A new card sequence was begun c. 1966, AF023 Union Steam Ship Employment cards for seamen and engine room ratings [2nd series] and it appears that the employment cards of those still working at that time were transferred into the new sequence.
The cards are in two different formats – hard-copy and microfiche. 15 index cards from the B, C and H surnames which were not microfilmed are located at the front of Box 2 (item AF022-7).
The cards record full name, date and place of birth, previous ship or employment and rating, and after c. 1945 they also include Union No. and service details, including vessel, date and place of joining, rating, character (sobriety, character, ability), date and place of discharge, and reasons for discharge.
This last column is the Reason for discharge and typically contains comments on work habits, temperament, misdemeanours, political affiliations, etc. There are multiple cards for some staff, and a few have newspaper articles attached referring to prosecutions.
Quantity (Linear Metres)7MediumFileSystem of ArrangementAlphabetical by nameCollection TypeWellington Museums Trust
Access Information
Restriction StatusOpen
Related Agencies
Controlling or Creating AgencyUnion Steam Ship Company of New Zealand LtdRelationship Date Range1875-30 November 2001
Union Steam Ship Employment cards for seamen and engine room ratings [1st series]. Archives Online, accessed 06/04/2026, https://archivesonline.wcc.govt.nz/nodes/view/2371








