SEAMEN AND OWNERS

Evening Star, Issue 20311, 21 October 1929, Page 9

SEAMEN AND OWNERS

THE MABITiftiE CONFERENCE Pr«»& Ascocution —By Telegraph —Copyright UEMCVA, October 20. During the debate on the protection of seamen against sickness Sir Granville Ilvrie (High Commissioner for Australia in Groat Britain) urged agreement on the definition of the owners’ liability. Ho said there were too many conflicting laws. As a number of maritime countries were at variance, it was desirable that the owners and seamen should know their relation to each other, and it might bo advantageous to adopt international regulations based on the methods covering risks ordinarily observed in national laws. When the shipowners asked the conference to distinguish between effective work and hours ordinarily worked, M. Festu said that seamen might bo compelled to do duty for sixteen hours to complete eight hours of effective duty. He quoted the Australian arbitration decision to the effect that officers and engineers were required to remain on board one night in port for fire prevention, and were paid an extra day s pay and overtime for such ark performed during this time. He «)d any other system was unthinkable.—Australian 'Press Association.