THE MERCHANT SHIPPING CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13502, 29 July 1907, Page 6

THE MERCHANT SHIPPING CONFERENCE.

ISSUE 01? REPORT. [FROM OUR OWN ; cokkesi'OXJ)i:nt..l ' London", June 21. Yktcbbdav the report was issued in Blue Book form, of the recent conference between representatives of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth of Australia, and New Zealand, on the subject of merchant shipping legislation. It is noted that the Conference was originally proposed in 1905 by Mr. Lylielton, Secretary of- State for the Colonies, and the correspondence between the Colonial Office and the Board of Trade, as well as that between Mr. Lyltelton andthe Governments of the Commonwealth; of Australia and .New Zealand, has already been published as a Parliamentary paper.: The New Zealand Shipping and Seamen Act, 1203, ami the Australian Navigation. and Shipping Bill, with the report of the Royal Commission on this Bill, tunned to a irreat extent the basis of the deliberations of the Conference. The conclusions reached are summed tup thus: (1) Resolutions passed. (2) resolutions on which the delegates differed, and , (3) resolutions withdrawn alter discussion. Anion;.' the questions included in ' the first category were surveys, the scale of provisions, accommodation for crews, manning, rating, officers, coasting trade, British seamen." eyesight tests, compasses, workmen's compensation, wireless telegraphy, and uniformity of regulations. The topics embraced in the second group resolutions on which the delegations differed—had regard to vessels to which colonial conditions were applicable, bills, of lading, payment of seamen's wages, and desertion. The subjects included in the third division—resolutions withdrawn after discussion—had reference to British and foreign seamen, clauses in articles of' agreement, the light load-line, the engagement of seamen, watertight compartments, service qualifications for engineers certificates, and examinations for officers' certificates. One of the resolutions withdrawn after discussion was as follows:—" That this Conference is opposed to the employment of,; scars, coolies. Chinamen, or persons ot any other alien rare on any vessel owned, registered, or chartered to trade in the Ooninuniweallli or New Zealand." "Appended to the report, of Ihe proceedings is a memorandum by representatives of .British shipowners,' setting forth their attitude on the questions involved. Annexed, also, is :i reply to that memorandum by Sir William Lyne. 'The papers include' the Brussels draft conventions on collisions and salvage, as well as a, memorandum by Sir William Lyne on these conventions.