THE MARITIME CONFERENCE

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12851, 9 July 1907, Page 5

THE MARITIME CONFERENCE

MR BELCHER ON TIIE RESULTS,

(SPF.CIAI. TO "Tin* rRI>S.") . DbWEDI.V, July 3. Mr Belcher, interviewed regarding tin- .Maritime Conference, said it would bo advisable at some future date for a Conference to bo hold nt which all interests concerned should be represented, because it was evident in the early sioßt's of the Conference that tlio prospect of the iniiii-ation of tlio maritimo laws of the Empire was vcrv slight indeed. It wa> obvious thro'ii-liout tho Conference that British shipowners resented any interference whatever with present maritime* conditions, and practically churned tho right under the .Shipping Act of Great Britain to send their vessels to trade wherever they chose without any local interfeienco whatever. They had eventually to admit the rr'ht of tiie co'onics to legislate for themselves. In future British ofiirinls would not pl:;ro tho same oh-s-tac.Y* in tlie way o.' assenting to colonial shipping ieg>i.-ition as in the past. He was agreeably surprised that the light of local control was conceded. This was undoubtedly an immense move nhead, ,-uvl jhipowncis and seafarers in Australasia would no doubt bo s.ttis!i( d to know that co::stal trades <md conditions npnoit lining thereto would in futim lies.fe;uarded a_;;::inst th'-en-cro*ic!i!n..iit.; o: unfair comiietiiicn from vessel.-, poorly mnnned and cheuply paid. The •••mditioiis under which the sor.faring if.r 11 worked at Home were interior to those enforced here. Wages ■yen* considerably loner, ami there was practically a kick of anything in tho sha_-e ot n pulation as to hours of labour. -J"!. uu'''-r the e\ist*'**g industri ! conditio . tli r-ennie;: app> are-! t , be entirely at Hie mercy 01 tlio shipowners.