MARINE TRADING MATTERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13485, 11 May 1907, Page 6

MARINE TRADING MATTERS

COASTWISE AND AUSTRALIAN

V TRAFFIC. ,

EMPLOYMENT OF; FOREIGN

vessels:

A deputation from the Auckland branch of the Seamen's Union, introduced by Mr. C. H. : Poole, . M.H.R., waited upon the Minister for Marine (the Hon. J. A. Millar), at the Grand Hotel yesterday morning, in respect to several matters.

Mr. J. K. Kneen (secretary to the union) referred to the Norwegian vessel Inga, which it was stated was now trading between Newcastle and Auckland, with coal and returning with timber, from the Kaipara for Australia. The charterers had been compelled to man the vessel according to the New Zealand schedule, but the wages paid were only £3 or £4 a month. It was asked whether it was not possible to have the terms of the New Zealand award enforced in regard to wages.

Mr. ; Millar - stated that it seemed that the only waj* out of the i difficulty was to have an agreement between Australia and New Zealand, extending the definition of coastwise trade to include not only vessels trading on the Australian and New Zealand coasts, but also those trading across the Tasman Sea. If this were done, ships such as that referred to would have to be manned and to pay wages in accordance with our law. At present, as soon as a vessel got beyond New Zealand waters she was deemed to be foreign, and even if simply taking a cargo from one of our ports to Australia was 60 treated. If Australia would pass a Coastwise Trade ' Bill similar to our own we could enforce the full' New Zealand regulations, but until that was done we were powerless to do more than had already been done. He hoped to deal with the matter in an amending Bill next session.

The question of masters' certificates was also referred to by Mr. Kneen. He said that many men. had, certificates entitling them to command vessels up to 20 tons only. He suggested that after a man had served a certain period in vessels of one tonnage, he : should be allowed to take charge of, those- of a : larger size. This would place holders of ' certificates of service on an even footing with holders of certificates. of competency. The Minister said that when, the service certificates were : first. issued they were equal to certificates of competency, and it was pointed out that a service certificate in such case would entitle a man who had been running a 20-ton cutter to take charge of a 1000-ton • vessel/ and ■ run it anywhere. The , regulations were consequently, altered, arid now a, service certificate would only take a man in' the same sized vessel as he ran before the Act was passed. It was clear, however, that further, amendment was ; required, and he intended to move to allow masters of 20ton .vessels to take "vessels of -larger size within the < same limits, but the men would have to pass a colour test. There were men. running on the coasts who did not know red, blue, or green from anv other colour, and that was as absolute danger. As to the question of a man with a service ticket being able to run a boat with an oil engine, the Minister said that if a man was competent to run a sailing vessel, he was-quite competent to run one with an oil engine. He had several amendments of |the Act in view, and was now waiting for the report of the New Zealand delegates to the Navigation Conference, so that he could incorporate his own amendments with their proposals. Ho did not know whether the Bill would pass next session, as 'it depended on how the House behaved itself- on the land question.