NAVIGATION CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13886, 25 April 1907, Page 7

NAVIGATION CONFERENCE

IMPRISONMENT: FOR DESERTION

Press Association—(By Telegraph—Copyright.

LONDON, April 23. At tlie Navigation Conference, Sir W. •J. Lyne proposed' to abolish imprisonment for desertion. Ho declared he did not desire to place foreign ships in a better or a worse position than the British.

Mr Norman Hill objected. Seamen were allowed to go' free if ihey forfeited their wages, yet if a seaman proved undesirable the shipowners were fined for leaving him behind.

Mr Hughes interjected: "Yon are between the devil and the deep sea." Ultimately, on Mr JJnghes's suggestion, the motion was amended and carried as follows::—'" That imprisonment for desertion be abolished in the country where tho seaman is engaged, except -where :i seaman, after negotiating' an advanefc note, wilfully or through misconduct fails to join his skip,, or deserts before the note is payable, provided that in respect to desertion from ships other than those registered-in the Commonwealth, or whose final port of discharge of the crew is the ■Commonwealth, deserters shall be placed on board such vessels upon request by competent authority (that of the consul in the ease of foreign, and of the captain in the caae. of a British ship). The colonial delegates refused to accept Mr HillTs rider prowling that, if imprisonment far desertion bo abolished, the shipowner t'-c relieved of responsibility for the repatriation of tho deserter, and relieved in any State of further penalty. The conference has adjourned till the 29th.