TRANSFER OF SAILING SHIPS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVI, Issue LVI, 29 January 1909, Page 7

TRANSFER OF SAILING SHIPS.

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT'S EXPLANATION.

fPEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.! WELLINGTON, January 28. In connection with the telegram from Auckland concerning the transfer of sailing vessels from the New Zealand Lo the Australian register, enquiries made at the Marine Department showed that there was no information of any more than one Auckland firm proposing to transfer its vessels to an Australian register. Wellington is not affected, as there j.-> but little if any sailing tonnage on the local register. In Auckland there are more sailing vessels belonging to that port than to any other' in the Dominion. The objection raised by Auckland owners to New Zealand legislation would -probably be to the provisions regarding the minimum crew, employment of boys, deck cargo, and the workers' compensation for sickness a-nd accident legislation, which applies to maritime employment as well as to shore work. Registry in the Commonwealth would, however, bar a vessel trading in New Zealand between coast port and coast port, say from the Kai<para to Wellington, on the Australian rates of pay if they were lower than those of New Zealand. The passing of a Commonwealth Navigation Bill would, however, put New Zealand owners registering in the Commonwealth on much aboxit the same footing as they are already with regard to payment of wages, equipment, minimum crew to be carried, and other provisions in the New Zealand law.