THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, MAY. 27, 1907. THE SHIPPING CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13498, 27 May 1907, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, MAY. 27, 1907. THE SHIPPING CONFERENCE.

The results of the Imperial Shipping Conference have not been to give to either the British or the Australasian delegates ail that they sought. I This was hardly to have been expected, for there was a; very considerable rivalry of interest y involved, and wherever there is rivalry of interests the only possibility of amicable settlement lies in compromise. But there was one point in which, thanks to a ■ not unfriendly disposition on the part of the British delegates, the . colonial , sentiment, which was so ably represented by the .Australasian delegates, scored a deemed victory. That was on the question of British crews. It was decided v that only British subjects speaking the English language should be employed as officers on coastal ships, "' arid that every means should be taken, by legislation and otherwise, to encourage the employment of British seamen on British ships. This is a great step in the right direction. One % of the ; most serious of our maritime dangers is that of recent years the British officer and, the British seaman have been gradually . losing their hold on both' bridge ; and deck, ■•-■: under their own British flag. -Their places have been .taken by foreigners to such an

1. extent that it has sometimes looked as though the Australasian trade would become the last' refuge of the British sailorman. The reaction against a danger which threatens our existence as a maritime people has fortunately set in. < The United Kingdom has decided to issue certificates as pilots in Home waters to British subjects only, and we may hope that the Conference's decision to require officers of '■ coastal vessels" to be British subjects will; soon be extended to cove/ all the officers of all British ships. The agreement to encourage British seamen on British ships, "by legislation or otherwise," though Jit is explicitly •stated that " restrictive conditions " are not contemplated, leaves our colonial Parliaments free to act in this direction, and. may be taken as an indication of the tendency of all Imperial : legislation* on the subject. As all European nations which have maritime ambitions rigidly protect their merchant officers and seamen against all eviction from -under their national flags by foreign competitors, British public opinion is only following a well-trodden path. Unless something of this sort is done, it is evident that British officers and seamen would soon become as extinct as the moa, a calamity too "full of consequences to allow even the Imperial Government to contemplate it with equanimity. One of the great impediments to a complete understanding on the question between the Imperial and the Australasian Governments is, of course,...: the coolie crews of the Asiatic companies. But circumstances are gradually making for a better comprehension of this problem, by both sides, and though the Imperial delegates secured the withdrawal of an adverse colonial resolution it is not impossible that it may be arranged at a future conference by a compromise which will leave the Asiatic coasting trade to coolie crews and all oversea trade to British. The present agreement, which assures the colonial coastal trade, to the British officer and promises encouragement to the British seamen, is far better than could have been expected five years ago.

As far as the Australasian coastal trade is concerned, the Conference has practically left it to be dealt with by the colonies themselves, having affirmed their right to do so, and having confined its resolutions bearing thereon to the removal of anomalies. .This satisfactory issue is due entirely to the hearty co-opera-tion between all the Australasian delegates, shipowners, officers, engineers, and seamen, working together to' prevent any depreciation of the Australasian conditions by unfair competition. As to the relation between colonial maritime regulations and foreign treaties, that was a matter for the Premiers' Conference. Where existing treaties are affected there is likely to be some difficulty, but future treaties, thanks to the plain speaking of the Australasian Premiers, are not likely to be made without previously consulting any colony affected. One of the most important results of the Conference, however, -isthe agreement |hat bur colonial coastal regulations .apply to. any vessel which "takes on board cargo; or passengers at any ; port in the colony to. be carried, to and; landed or delivered at any other port in the colony." The effect of this is plain. It settles definitely the long dispute between the colonial Governments and the oversea vessels, as to whether the carrying of passengers arid cargo from port to port within the colonies brought them under colonial regulations. Henceforward, there is no question as to their position, or as to the right of colonial courts to enforce wages, accommodation, manning, or other conditions upon them. Future ships engaging in the Australasian trade are to meet the colonial requirements as to sanitation,, ventilation, •accommodation, etc. ; but ships already built are only to be required to be sufficiently amended if they are considered actually insanitary by the colonial authorities. -The effect of this arrangement must be far-reaching. It will not only induce building upon lines which will enable ships to enter our coastal trade if they wish to do so, but jit will inspire British legislation compelling improved accommodation in all British-registered ships. The wretched \ accommodation and inferior food still provided for seamen in many British ships, contrasted with the greatly-improved conditions ashore, has doubtless had much to do with the driving out of; British seamen from British forecastles. If improvement in this respect follows upon the Imperial Shipping Conference, the Mother Country will have no ultimate cause to regret the stand made by her Australasian colonies.„■