FEDERAL NAVIGATION BILL.

Evening Post, Volume LXVII, Issue 146, 21 June 1904, Page 5

FEDERAL NAVIGATION BILL.

DEPUTATION TO THE FEDERAL PREMIER. frniisa association. l (Received Juno 21, 10.25 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. A deputation juked Mr. Watson, the Federal Picnuer, to allow the producing, shipping, and commercial inte-toßts to bo lepreswittid on tho Navigation J3ill Royal (JommUsion, atao that tho Commission should enquire into tho provisions relating to oversea shipping. Mr. Watson promised to givo the matter favourable consideration. Ho stated that it was not intended to include in tho Arbitration Bill vessels not competing in the coastal trade. Mr. Watnon is not proceeding with the Navigation Kill thin sowion, as his Uovommunt did not agree with tho form in which it Was drawn up. 110 nnnouncod recently Mint the meusuro would bo referred to a Royal Commission to report on the alteration* necessary. Ono of Uie ckutticti of the Nuvigation Bill, as introduced by Mr. Doukm, provided that all non-Australian vmuwUi which desired tho privilege of trading between Australian ports, must pay tho local latcs of wages to tlwir »ea*iicn. In Ih'm way it was intended to protect tho loenlly owned vessels against tho cornpolition' of iho ocean liuecs, which on thoir incoming nud outgoing voy.igc« carry "pufcsengors and a cevtain amount of freight Between Fromantle, Adclaido, Moibounic, and Sydnoy. Mr. Kingston resigned from tho Cabinet last year "berause Mr. De.ikin refused to extend the jurisdiction of the Arbitration Court to foroign-OAvned vessels trading between vVustralian ports. Mr. Dcakin beliovcd that this would bo doing violence, to international ln,w and u»ago, nnd refused absolutely to ogreo to it, promising to introduce tho Navigation Rill winulUnconsly with tho Arbitration Bill, and thus got over the difficulty. Mr. Wat yon, however, in now apparently leverting to Mr. Kingston's plan.