SEA TRANSPORT

Grey River Argus, 4 December 1940, Page 4

SEA TRANSPORT

NEW N.Z. LEGISLATION. WELLINGTON, December 3. The House met to-day at 2.30 p.m.. Moving the committal of the Sea Carriage of Goods Bill, the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Hon. D. G. Sullivan), said that the measure defined the responsibilities, rights and liabilities of shippers and ship-owners in respect of goods carried by sea. Prior to this class of legislation being enacted, there had been an increasing tendency oh the part of ship-owners to write in clauses in bills of lading, the general objective of which was to protect themselves against almost every kind of liability, and the position had become so confused and unsatisfactory that an international agreement was. reached in 1923 for fixing the liability and responsibility, and an imperial act was passed in 1924, embodying these provisions. The Imperial Conference in 1926, had asked the Dominions to pass legislation bringing them into line with the Imperial Act. and this request was being carried out by New Zealand. The Minister said that, as far as coastwise trade was concerned, New Zealand would observe the old rule, because of custom and the decisions concerning it; but the new legislation would apply to overseas trade.

The Bill was put through the committee stages qnd read -the third time and passed with practically no discussion. The Mokau Harbour Bill was also put through the remaining stages and passed, and the House adjourned for tea at 5.20 p.m