MARITIME CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6176, 6 April 1907, Page 7

MARITIME CONFERENCE.

SHIPPING LEGISLATION sue GESTED AMENDMENTS. SIR ■WILLIAM LYNE REPLIES TO SHIP-OWNERS. AUSTRALASIAN DESIRES. By Telegraph-Prces Association-Copyright. (Received April o, 9.12 p.niA LONDON. April o. The Navigation Conference resumed its sittings yesterday. Sir William Lyne, Federal Minister for Trade and Customs, read a memorandum replying to tho shipowners’ .statement on tho practical difficulties resulting from lack of uniformity in merchant shipping; legislation. Tho ship-owners had remarked that since 1900 British seamen had increased by 0090, although there had been a Royal Commission which based its recommendations on a decline of the number of British seamen.

Sir William Lvno replied that, there were still nearly 4.0,000 foreigners employed in British merchantmen, besides Asiatics. Ho denied that Australian legislation had placed British ships at a disadvantage as compared with foreigners. Referring to the liability of ship-owners, Sir William Lyno maintained that the Sea, Carriage Act should he continued. Tic emphasised the fact that Australia’s great desire was to give British owners preference as against foreigners. He considered that ship-owners ought to recognise that fact more. Sir William defined Australian views as follows:—That tho Australian requirement is necessary and desirable; that foreign ships must bo subjected to all the requirements applied to British ships; that the latter, in tho carriage of goods, shall have preference against tho foreigner; that the proportion of British seamen enu and ought to be increased until the foreigner is reduced or eliminated: that the Australian coasting trade shall he restricted to vessels complying with Australian conditions, preference being given to British ships engaged in coast trade as far as practicable; that shipping laws and requirements should bo uniform throughout the Empire. Sir William Lyne considered the lines of Now Zealand and Australian legislation ought generally to constitute the basis of a uniform law. Each British colony should give preference to British vessels in all sea trade. On Sir Joseph Ward's (Premier of New Zealand) motion, tho Conference agreed to five resolutions, providing that the Board of Trade issuo survey certificates in the case of non-passen-ger vessels; also that the Board of Trade standards and certificate respecting hull, machinery, boilers, and life-saving appliances should bo accepted for British ships in Austrtalia and Noxv Zealand, and have tho same effect as local certificates. Sir William Lyne suggested the last provision. The Conference agreed that the scale of provisions required by tho British Merchant Shipping Act of 190 G bo accepted for use on British ships not registered in Australasia, and agreed that provisions on British ships, when passed by Imperial officers, should be exempt from further inspection in Australasia except on a complaint, or if the authorities have reason to believe that an inspection is necessary. lb was also agreed that Australasia’s conditions regarding manning, ventilation, and conveniences should only apply to vessels registered in tho colonics or engaged in tho Australasian coastal trade.