Protection For British Shipping

Northern Advocate, 23 October 1936, Page 8

Protection For British Shipping

Trans - Tasman Service

Passengers and Goods

Per Press Association. — Covyright. 1 WELLINGTON, This Day. A MOVE to protect British shipping in the Tasman -against the competition of subsidised foreign shipping is being taken by the Government, and yesterday the Protection ,of British Shipping Bill was introduced to the House of Representives by Governor-General’s message.

The Bill is described as a measure “to protect British-shipping from competition from foreign shipping in the carriage of passengers and goods between New Zealand and Australia 1 , if the foreign shipping is, by the laws of its own country, protected against competition frpm British shipping in the carriage of passengers or goods between ports of territories of that country.

The measure provides that the legislation is to be enforced on any of the following grounds:—

Grounds For Enforcement,

(1) That the foreign country concerned prohibits British ships by law \fronr carrying passengers or goods between ports or territories of that country.

(2) That the foreign country imposes restrictive conditions on British shipping.

(3) That the ships of the foreign country receive from any source, subsidies, concessions, rebates, allowances or other valuable privileges which enable them to compete on equal terms with British shipping in the carrying of passengers or goods.

It is provided, however, that the legislation cannot be applied in contravention of any treaty or convention binding on the New Zealand Government. When the legislation is evoked, the validity of any Order-in-Council issued to protect British shipping cannot be questioned in any Court. During the currency of any Order-in-Council issued under the Bill, it will be unlawful for any ship of the foreign country specified to receive any passengers or goods in New Zealand for carriage to Australia, or to land in New Zealand any passengers or goods received on board that ship in any port of Australia. People will be prohibited from embarking in New Zealand on the ship for any port in Australia, irrespective of the fact that the Australian port may not be the final destination.

In the case of goods consigned to Australia there will be a similar prohibition.

The Penalties.

An exception will be allowed in the case of through passengers. If a person arrives in New Zealand by a foreign ship to which the legislation has been applied, he may travel to Australia by that ship, or any ship of the .same country, at any time within six months of his arrival. A similar provision applies in the case of a person arriving in New Zealand from Australia. Goods landed in error either in Australia or New Zealand will not be affected, provided that they have not been removed from the control of the Customs.

All persons travelling on foreign ships in contravention of the Bill will be liable to a fine of £IOO on summary conviction,' and the master and owner of the ship concerned will be liable to a similar penalty. Similar penalties are fixed in regard to the consignors of goods by foreign ships brought under the legislation, and to the owners and masters of such ships. This will apply to goods shipped from New Zealand or landed from Australia, and it is provided that such goods landed in the Dominion will be forfeited to the Crown. An officer of the Customs Department may, even if a clearance has been granted a foreign ship coming under the legislation, detain the ship if he has reason to believe that an offence has been committed by the owner or the. master. No ship may be detained for more than 48 hours unless proceedings are commenced against the owner or master within that period. The Shipping and Seamen Act provisions regarding the detention of

ships, including the penal provisions, are to apply with the necessary modifications.

“Madam, will you ride in my Car?” “Where do you get it Serviced, Sir?”

“WYLIE'S, OF COURSE! ”

“Well-!”