A MEASURE OF BELIEF.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 190, 12 August 1922, Page 12

A MEASURE OF BELIEF.

i DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH. Mr. Robert Burns, president of the' Auckland Importers'. Protection Association, was seen regarding the Sea Carriage Bill .and asked his,views upon the proposals. "I consider it a move in the right direction," said Mr. Burns, but it does not go far enough to suit shippers. Our association drew out a suggested bill, of - lading, which contained certain provisions out of the Harter Act, passed in the United State.* in 1893, and ako some from the Canadian Water' Carriage of Goods Act of 1910. The association added other suggestions deemed necessary to suit local conditions. The aim was *o assist shippers by giving;protection* which is .considered-necessary. It was sought to have a provision that any "unreasonable" clause inserted in a biil iof lading from outside the Dominion shoin'd be null and void. Such a provision is provided in the' New Zealand Shipping Act, but it has been held that by accepting a bill of lading signed and" issued in a foreign' country the buyer here contracts himself out of the provision of the New Zealand Act. I take it this clause is to define the position as far as exports are concerned, but it docs not give the'necessary protection to importers. I read this clause as referring to exporters, but not to importers. The English bill of lading protects shipowners against claims for damages for loss of goods caused by the. negligence of masters, officers, stevedores, I or crews of vessels. Holding this to be., an- unreasonable clause, it would be' null ] and void either under the' Harter Act or the Canadian one. Our association wants a similar protection for importers under the laws of the Dominion against loss by negligence." ' ■-.'•". ' One proposal in the bill, that in case of packages broken or tampered with tbe' production of bona fide invoices shall'be sufficient prima facie, evidence'that the. contents were in accordance' therewith, and the onus of proof to the contrary j shall rest upon the shipowner, was con-1 sidered by some business men who.were, interviewed, as rather severe on the ship-, ping companies as it would leave an opening for unscrupulous people. It was pointed out that shipowners' representatives could not open the to see that the goods were the same as specified in the invoices. *