MARITIME CONFERENCE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 15 September 1921, Page 5

MARITIME CONFERENCE

NBW BILL OF LADING

•I CASK—PBESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT

LONDON, Sept. 13. Mr.. J. M. Hunter (Agent-General for Queensland) ha_ returned to London. H« confirms the optimism of Mr. A. G. Ashbolt (Agent-General for Tasmania) regarding the results of the maritime conference, and hoped the new bill of lading would be introduced early i* the year.

Mr. ___fcbolt informed th© Australian Press Association that the general adoption of the Hague Conference bill of lading is practically assured. British, American, and Continental delegates, including representatives of the principal British maritime, mercantile, franking, and insurance - interests, all recommended its adoption. Mr. Ashnolt believes that this will nullify the Imperial Committee's report. The shipping companies are probably influenced ■y *«*•»« to escape legislation which is threatened, by several countries The conference preferred voluntary action. Mr. Ashbolt is of opinion that the Jlague recommendations are superior fromlthe shippers' point of view to the Aufctr^han Sea Carriage Act, although it would involve some unimportant JMnendniente to that Act to brine it mt*. conformity, with the Hagug rules