THE SHIPPING LAWS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2550, 26 August 1915, Page 6

THE SHIPPING LAWS

1 SUGGESTED 'AMENDMENTS. The Minister of Marine (the Hon. Dr. M'Nab) was interviewed yesterday.by a deputation from the Federated Seamen's Unioiij consisting of Mr. W. T. Young, secretary of the Wellington Union, and Sir. W. Belcher, secretary of .tho _Dunedin Union. They urged that consideration should be given to amendments of the shipping law. The proposals brought 'forward incraded the extension of medical benefits, a stipulation that New Zea-land-owned ships engaged in foreign waters should bo governed . by _ local agreements, proper stokehold ventilation with crews' quarters on the main deck if possible, and provision for boat drill. It was also suggested that Section 67 of the Shipping Act Amendment Act of 1908, giving the Minister power to suspend the operation of certain clauses of the Act,-should be repealed,' and that New Zealand autonomy should be sought in regard to shipping laws. .Dr. M'Nab, in reply, said that he was in favour of many of tho suggestions made. Some of them, however, involved questions of constitutional laiv, and he did not hold a view favourable to that expressed by the deputation, as ho could not see how the conflict of the various laws of the Dominions could be mot otherwise than by somo central over-seeing authority. He was not sure Whether it was the intention of Cabinet to introduce anyi legislation this session beyond that pertaining to 'the war, but if it was he thought he would be - able to carry out some of the proposals by legislation. Of this lie would inform the deputation later. Ho made special reference to the shortage of marine officers, owing to the number that are at the war. These officers being absent there must be some power to exempt vessels at times from the officers' man-' ning scale set out in the statute. . . Mr. Young admitted this in regard to Junior mates, and the Minister stated that that was the very case before the Government now. If the deputation did not take up the attitude that somo form of modification of the statutory provision was allowable, he could not agree with them. Once thoy admitted that modification was .allowable their request for the repeal of the section must "bo subject to very considerable qualification.