EMPIRE SHIPPING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 150, 19 March 1908, Page 7

EMPIRE SHIPPING.

— 4IMPORTANT DISPATCH. MOTHERLAND AND THE COLONIES. THE COASTAL SPHERE. BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION— COPYRIGOT Melbourne, March 18. A dispatch from tho-Colonial Office and a memorandum from tho Board of Trade in regard to tho Navigation Bill woro tabled in tho Federal Sonate. • The, dispatch states that, in so far as tho Bill conforms to tho resolutions of tho Navigation Conference, tho Imperial Gov'ernmont is in full accord with its provisions, and dosires to put on record that overy Dominion has full power to regulato not only vessels registered in that possession, but also vc6sels ongaged in tho coasting trado. In certain eases, however, tho legislation proposed wont beyond that limit, by purporting to regulate vessels which did not engago in the coasting trado, and vessels while on tho high seas before or, after engaging in coastal trade. Tho hope is oxpressed that the Commonwealth will find it possiblo to give effect to the suggestions contained in tho Board of Trado memorandum. . ,

LINES ADOPTED BY CONFERENCE,

The following resolutions bearing ■ on the all-important question of coastal trading and colonial restrictions were passed by the Navigation Conference'last year:— That the vessels to which the conditions imposed by the law of Australia or New Zealand are applicable should be (a) vessels registered in the colony, while trading therein, and (b) vessels wherever registered whilo trading on the coast of the-colony; that, for the purpose of this resolution a vessel shall bo deemed to trade if she takes on board cargo or passengers at any port in tho colony to bo carried to and landed or delivered at any port in tho colony. \This was passed unanimously. A rider was proposed to this resolution, and was supported by the British shipowners, but not by the colonial delegates, except' Mr. D. Thompson. It reads:—"The Conference is of opinion that, as a matter of .expediency, oversea vessels which only engage in tho colonial' coasting trade by taking passengers or cargo between their colonial j ports of call should not; be deemed to engago in tho coastal trade." The • Conference unanimously resolved:— "A:vessel engaged in the oversea trade shall not be deemed to' engago in tho coasting trado morely because it carries between two Australian or New Zealand ports (a) passengers holding through, tickets to or from some oversea place; (b) merchandise consigned on through bill of lading to or from', somo oversea place.", _ 1 The following resolutions were also passed : "That it is cfesirablo that the obligations imposed by Australian or New Zealand law on shipping registered in tho United Kingdom should not be more onerous than those imposed on the shipping of any foreign country'.'.' (Passed unanimously.) "That it bo'a recommendation to, the Australian and New Zealand Governments that if conditions are imposed by. local law on vessels incidentally engaging in the coasting trado in courso of'an oversea voyage, care should bo ; taken that • thoso conditions should hot bo such as to differentiate to their disadvantage as compared with-the colonial-registered vessels." (Passed unanimously;)