CHINESE SEAMEN.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 5, 6 July 1910, Page 7

CHINESE SEAMEN.

m — APPEAL BY A SHIPPING COM- ! : pany. I By Telegraph. — Press Association.— Copyright.

; LONDON, sfejr July. , The owners of the steamer lp.'own of , Galicia \\h& Crown Steam Smp Com- [ pany, Ltd.) have appealed against the Board or Trade's decision not to allow a fine of £100 to be debited against the account of a Chinese member of the crew who deserted in Australia,. It was proposed to enter the amount as expenses incurred through the man's desertion. Counsel on behalf of the Board of Trade argued that the owners knowingly risked taking Chinese to Australia, and were fined primarily because they , broke the Australian law, the owners , being permitted to make collective returns of the accounts of absent seamen. If the present claim were allowed, it would have a disastrous effect on Bri1 tish seamen, whose accounts might be lumped with that of a deserting Chinese. The magistrates supported the Board ■ of Trade's contentions. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN POLITICS. GOVERNMENT POLICY. By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright, ADELAIDE, sth. July. In the Legislative Assembly the Premier, Mr. Verran, outlined the Government policy. This includes adult suffrage for Legislative Council elections, a progressive land tax, the compulsory repurchase of land for closer settlement, Factory and Workmen's Compensation Bills, the establishment of hign schools, and a Bill to enable the Government to make advances to workers to build theml selves homes. > The Government's public works prof posals include railway extension, and . the erection of two locks on the Murray river. I The Ministry hopes that the Eederal Parliament will accept the Northern Territory Transfer Bill. The only alternative in the event of refusal would be^to re-pudiate-the territory altogether. j NORTHERN TERRITORY LOAN. In the Legislative Assembly on the . 7th of Tasb month, the Chief Secretary, ,_ in asking for suspension of the standing I orders to enable the Northern Territory r Loan Bill for £1,800,000 to be carried, • said it was a matter of urgency. He 3 hoped members would carry it forthwith. ' Mr. Duncan protested against the Bill r being passed without any discussion or consideration. They should give a reasonable amount of time to the matter. • The Chief Secretary then read a state- - ment supplied by the Treasury. The Bill • was prepared by the previous Govern- • ment. Mr. Lucas said a short tabulated f statement in the 'last report of the Com1 missioned of Audit put the position in - a nutshell. Up to 30th June last year > iSouth Australia had advanced to th"c - Northern Territory in round figures 1 £780,000, which was not covered by r loan. The Bill was to provide for that and for the bonds falling due. According y to the Commissioner of Audit the total indebtedness on the Northern Territory up to 30Ui June last year was £3,528,000. On the motion for the third reading the i Leader of the Opposition said that he s had learned from the late Premier that • the passage of the Bill would really have r tue effect of refunding to South Australia 0 some of the money it had lent to the Nor1 them Territory. It was not so much to 1 relieve the funds of the Northern Territ tory on then* of South Australia proper. The BUI vvM'<£s4 &-_hJ«4 time,.