COLONIAL STATESMEN IN LONDON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 24 April 1907, Page 2

COLONIAL STATESMEN IN LONDON.

ITCHED PKE33 ASSOCIATION.— COPSBIOHT.] The Navigation Conference. LONDON, Tuesday. The Navigation Conference has re- ' sumed. Sir Wm. Lyne (Australia), moved that compulsory insurance for seamen was desirable. He thonght the Government ought to pay half the premiums. ■' Mr Hughes thought the Australian people would^ object to fay. Ultimately,' at the instance of Sir Joseph Ward, Mr Hughes, ..and JUr Dugald Thomson, a motion \vas Adopted recomending the Commonwealth to extend tho benefits of the Workmen s Compensation Acts to seamen, as already done in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. The shipowners dissented, but approved of the British Departmental scheme of compulsory insurance recommended in 1904. Sir Wm. Lvne proposed that the North ■ Atlantic mark apply to sbips leaving Australia via Cape Horn. The Board of Trade expert considered it unnecessary as steamer; leaving Australia were 'lightened by two feet through coal consumption before reaching the storm area. At Mr Dugald Thomson's suggestion a resolution was carried that the Commonwealth adopt the provisions, of the New Zealand Act regarding the load line. The Imperial delegates abstain- - ed from voting, believing that the decision rested with the colonial Governments. Sr Wm. Lvne withdrew the motion for a light load line for ships in ballast when the Board of Trade announced that the House of Lords Committee in 1903 had reported that it was unnecessary. Sir Wm. Lyne said that Australia could deal with the matter if necessary, and Mr Hughes concurred. The Conference admitted that Australia possessed the authority to provide that all seamen lie engaged through a Government ottiri-r, and also authority to abolish advance notes and restrict the allotment for such notes to relations. Sir Wm. Lyne did not press his=~motion insisting that all vessels constructed after a certain date should be fitted with watertight compartments_when the Conference admitted that it was purely a local matter, with Commonwealth jurisdiction. Sir Wm. Lyne > also withdrew his motion for the compulsory fiting of large steamers with wireless telegraphy, accepting Mr Thomson's motion that the Board of Trade and thfe Australian and New Zealand Governments should consider the desirableness of the provision of wireless telegraphy aboard passenger ships, which was carried. Sir Wm. Lyne's motion in favour of affording third-class engineers facilities to qualify for the higher grade certificates was not pressed on the Board of Trade promising to consider what relief was oossible.

(Received April 24, 8.28 a.m.) LONDON, Tuesday. At the Navigation Conference Sir W. Lyne proposed to abolish imprisonment for desertion. Ho declared that he did not desire to plare foreign ships in a better, or worse, position than British. Mr Norman Hill objected to seamen being allowed to go free if they forfeited wages, while, if a seaman proved undesirable, shipowners were fined for leaving him behind. Mr Hughes interjected : You are between the devil and the deep sea. Ultimately, on Mr Hughes' suggestion, the motion was amended and carried as follows : That imprisonment for • desertion be abolished in tha country where a seaman, except where a seaman, after negotiating an advance note," wilfully or through misconduct fails to join his ship ar deserts before the note is payable ; provided that in respect of desertion from shios other than those registered in the Commonwealth or whose final port of discharge of crew is the Commonwealth deserters shall bo placed aboard such vessels upon request by a competent authority, that of a Consul in the case of foreign ships, and- the captain in the case of a British ship. The colonial delegates refused to accept Mr Hill's rider providing that if imprisonment for desertion be abolished the shipowner bo relieved of the responsibility for repatriation of the deserter and relieved of any State tyThe Cnnferenco was adjourned till the 29th inst.