SHIPPING AND SEAMEN'S ACT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 100, 21 January 1908, Page 7

SHIPPING AND SEAMEN'S ACT.

ENGINEERS. FOR 1 FISHING BOATS. (by telkoiuph—rßEss association.) •inveroarglll, January 20. A deputation of over thirty, oyster-men waited on tho Primp iUinistef to-day to protest against the enforcement-on February- 1 of tho Shipping4nd Seamens Act,' 1903,' Motion 21, dealing with certificates'that must ho held by officers on fishing boata over five tons fitted with-oili engines. Tho' Act' has' not been enforced 'strictly in previous years. It was pointed'.'ofit. that the engines" were used originally ! for - hauling up oysters, and later small propellers': had-been fitted. Tho majority of the,-.vessels'; at: the porf- wero'-of-from ,twenty tft; twei)ty_-liyetons, 'and' tlioy' did not carry engines; of::horse,power-greater, than 2J-. The engines ,-itero. of .use ; only in. calm .weather. Trading out; of the Bluff there wero eighteen jto twenty , vessels - with. ;oil engines, alid all but threoi had engines -under 2i horse powej^-.'From,.Stewart Island' tlicro" wero trading tiyjelvir f-jx fifteen; craft .of.-small power. If the'''Act ivero"enforced it"would' be impossible taget. engineers* for-tho" boats, and tho men iviojjld ;just knock .off the propellers. * -i Sir Joseph Ward' ?aid''hiVsynYpatlires wero with tho deputation, and lie would : sc6' the Minister for Marine and advise tho fishermen of the result. . ■'.