SEAMEN LEFT ASHORE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14808, 11 October 1911, Page 8

SEAMEN LEFT ASHORE.

LIABILITY OF SHIPOWNERS.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Tuesday. The amendment of the Shipping and Seamen Act introduced by the Minister for Marine in the House of Representatives this afternoon deals principally with the legal position of seamen left on shore. Men incapacitated by illness or accident, and left on shore, will be deemed to be discharged. When the ship is a foreigngoing.. vessel, the full amount of wages due to seamen must' be" deposited by the master or the.agent of the vessel with the superintendent, and in addition £50 to defray the expenses of the maintenance and treatment of the man, and of his passage back to the port of engagement, or of his burial in case of his death in New Zealand.." A clearance will not be granted to the ship, until this provision has been complied with. Application for a passage back to the port of engagement must be made by the seaman -within seven days after he has been certified to be convalescent, or else the right to the passage will be forfeited. ,-•■ The balance of the deposit remaining unexpended will be refunded. In the case of a seaman left on *■ shore from an intercolonial or home trading ship, the owner will be liable for the full amount of wages to which the seaman is entitled, the . cost of \ the maintenance and attendance of the seaman during his incapacity, and the cost of his burial where the illness or accident terminates in his death in New Zealand^"