PRESENTATION TO MR F. T. BULLEN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13652, 23 July 1906, Page 3 (Supplement)

PRESENTATION TO MR F. T. BULLEN.

'iFnost Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 16. The Shipmasters' Association to-day made a presentation of their gold badge to Mr Frank Bullen. Amongst those present was tho Premier, who made two speeches. Ho stated (hat- information iiscl been received that ail Imperial Conference to deal with shipping laws"would take plaoo next April, and Xew Zealand had been asked to send three or four delegates, representing tho masters, seamen, and the Government. Tho invitation had been gladly aceoptod. The conference, would have no legislative power, and it could only recommend. Any proposed changes in the existing laws would have to como before tho Parliaments concerned. Although New Zealand had good shipping laws, he continued, the colony would ha.ve to go further. He expressed thanks to the shipping men who had helped to bring tho Marine Bill into shape. When any matter camo before the Government again thoy could rest assured that shipping interests— mast.ere, officers, and men—would have duo consideration. After detailing the factory legislation, ho said that his belief was ihat employers, whether in seafaring or other interests, had only to be shown that, certain measures wore for the good of humanity and they would come into line. In reply to the toast of his health, Mr Bullen admitted that lie began to write with an idea of benefiting himself, but. thcro were some books which men had to write, and these ho had written. Then, at the invitation of an American firm, ho had written a book dealing with the position of every man in the merchant servioe. This had not bo'sn a financial success, but it was the work of which he was tho proudest. For 10 years ho had been hammering at tho British public trying to convince it that the mercantile marine was the pivot on which the Empire moved.. Ho had started writim? for his own interest, but ho indicated delicately that his point of view had changed. This alteration in his perspective might not he a great commercial success, but it pleased him best. 110 mentioned that the honour paid him to-day was the first of its kind in his career. Ho spoke glowingly of New Zealand, and confessed that if ho could not bo buried- in his native land ho would like to rest here. The tiling that had struck him most litre was the development of tho coastal trade, though there could bo no moro 'arduous or strenuous conditions from tho points of view of weather and navigation. " What a race of seamen you breed out hers?!" ho exclaimed. "What a fine race they are!" Ho referred to correspondence dealing with n proposal, before the British House of Commons to bring sailors within the provisions allowing compensation to workmen for accidents, and sajd that the shipowners alleged that tho sailor was capable of anr iniquity, even to breaking his leg, for a bonus. The regrettable position in England was that the seamen had no proper representative to speak for tJiem in Parliament, but they had a sympathetic Government here. The one thing that, he wanted to see was all seafarers united, whether they were in command or not. At Homo thero were several associations who wero at loggerheads, but that was inimical to the common interest. Ho would like in Great Britain to sec ship, masters and shin officers joined in one Rreat body and claim what they could not claim now—amelioration.