SHIPPING AMENDMENT ACT SEAMEN'S FEDERATION SUGGESTS AMENDMENTS. MINISTER SYMPATHETIC.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 93, 16 October 1913, Page 2

SHIPPING AMENDMENT ACT SEAMEN'S FEDERATION SUGGESTS AMENDMENTS. MINISTER SYMPATHETIC.

A deputation, representing the Federated Seamen's Union of New Zealand, waited on the Minister {or Marine last evening with regard to the Shipping and. Seamen Amendment Bill. The deputation was introduced by Mr. A. H. Hiud-ra-arsh, M.F. The secretary of the federation (Mr. W. T. Young), referring to one of tho penal clauses, said that the union was entirely opposed to imprisonment in any shape or form for a seaman who, engaged for an outside port, failed to join the ship. Imprisonment for desertion and absence without leave was abolished under the Ward Government, and this was a proposal to reinstate it. The union, was also opposed to clause 6, which permitted a crew agreeing with the master as to what should be the final port of call in New Zealand. The present law met all requirements. The clause would mean that a man could be tied up for six months. The Minister stated that he intended' to delete this clause. Touching on clause 8, which deal* with the supply of provisions to seamen, Mr. Young said tins was* introducing something into the country which had not been enjoyed in the past and which was not wanted m the future. lib pta. vided for the "pound and. pint." The men had always signed on for "food' without waste. The Minister 6aid that he thought this clause was going to meet with approval. Mr. Young asked that the old iprovision, "food without waste," should be reverted to. It was also asked that certificated cooks should be provided for coastal vessels, and that no live stock and cargo should be carried on deck. The deck should, bo reserved exclusively for the ship's crew and passengers. Other amendment was also requW ?•!. The Hon. M*. Fisher thanked Mr. Young for having stated the case _so clearly. He had hoped he was doing something for the men in the way of assistance. He would be y«ry glad to take some of the advic© given by Mr. Young, and alter some of the clauses accoiidingly. ' He suggested that each Bid© should put its suggestions in writing, and send two representatives from the owners and two from the union to confer with, him. He did not Want to put a clause into the Bill which would b© a source of grievance between on© party and the other. A clause In regard to medical attention had been drafted to go on the supplemen- ■ tary order paper. There 'would also be a clause dealing with regulation of surfboats. Th© case of imprisonment was a difficult on© to deal with. It was a serious offence lor a man to sign on for an out port and then to fail to tBrn up. There was no intention, he added, of putting anything on the Statute Book that would be a source of annoyance. H© had thought that in taking the schedule from tho Federal Act he was doing th© men a good turn. Mr. Young: "No, you were not. The Minister: "Then, I will tak© lb out." BOWLING • \ THORNDON v. 'NEWTOWN. The following players will represent Thorndon in a friendly match against Newtown on Saturday next :— At Newtown— H. Smith, Mifcford, Hatch, Hogben (skip) ; Medkvnd, 0. Barraud, J. M'Eldowney, Chitty (skip) ; Dumbell, Staff, Peterson, Dimock (skip); Turnbull, Collins, G. Johnson, Jackman (skip). At Thorndon— Phelps, Upham, J. A. C. M'Eldowhey, M. Clark (skip) ; Buckeridge, Allen, Longton, Cohen, (skip) ; Arden, Stanford, Thomson, Conlin (skip) ; Greening, Hull, Ramsay, Nimmo (skip). TE HIWI CLUB. „ The Te Hiwi Club Green will be opened for play at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday by tho veteran presidept of the club, Mr. Charles Hill.