NAVIGATION CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13891, 1 May 1907, Page 5

NAVIGATION CONFERENCE

TREATY OBLIGATIONS. PREFERENCE TO iiRITISH SHIPS, Press Association—By 'ielegraph—Copyright. LONDON, April 20. (Received April 30, at 9.18 p.m.) The Navigation Conference to-day carried the resolution originally submitted by the Board of Trade and the Colonial Office, but amended by Mr Hughes, recommending that any future Australasian merchant shiiiping legislation shall contain express provisions safeguarding tho obligations imposed by any treaties in which the Australian and New Zealand Governments had concurred, or may concur.

Mr Cos, on behalf of the Colonial Office, stated that it was now customary to provide; every colony -with ail opportunity of intimating its adhesion or dissent from a 'treaty; also the right to withdraw on 12 months' notice; also the right to obtain favoured-nation treatment ■without being bound under the treaty if it extends reciprocal treatment.

The Board of Trade moved that all the conference's resolutions aro understood to bo without prejudice to the decision of the legal questions involved.

Sir W. J. Lyne opposed this on tho ground that the conference's resolutions were not legally binding. Sir J. G. Ward objected, and said the resolution really meant that the respective countries would lio obliged to await legal decisions before the conference's resolutions could take eifect.

The motion was withdrawn,

The Board of Trade moved that the obligations imposed by Australia and •New Zealand on shipping registered in the United Ivingdom should not be moro onerous than that imposed on foreign shipping,.

fc'r <L G. Ward declared that- ho favoured giving British ships preference. If the motion passed it might create a difficulty in obtaining the Crown's assent to colonial legislation, owing to the treaty rights of foreign nations.

Sir W. J. Lyne thought the motion was superfluous. He wished to give preference to British ships. Mr Hill thought such a kindly sentiment ought to be recorded.

Ultimately, on Sir \V\ Lyne'6 suggestion, the resolution, prefaced by the words "it is desirable,", was carried, (Received April 30, at p.m.) The Board of Trade moved that, with the view of securing uniformity, the Australian shipping regulations should have regard to Imperial shipping regulations, and three months' notice should be given before they aro enforced. This was carried.

The Board of Trade presented a motion recommending that in the Australasian conditions imposed on vessels incidentally in the coasting trade in the course of. an oversea voyage, care should be taken not to handicap those vessels. Sir W. J. Lyne disagreed v with tho motion, not wishing to be .tied down. ilr Hughes said he did not desire to handicap British ship-owners, but rather desired to liand-icap foreigners. Sir J. G. Ward suggested the insertion of the lvord "needlessly" before the word "handicap." .

Mr Lloyd-George (President of the Board of Trade) suggested the substitution of the words "differentiate to'their disadvantage as compared with colonial register vessels" instead of the concluding words of the resolution.

The suggestion was adopted, and tho amended motion earned.

Sir J.' G. Ward moved that- the Governments bo requested to introduce legislation giving effect to the cfinferc'ncc's resolutions. This was carried. Mr Hughes's resolutions relating to the examination of officers, also recommending that the number of officers he such as to enable the principle of four hours' watch and eight off to be rigidly observed, were withdrawn after the assurances of the Board of Trade's expert that the matters referred to had been already covered.

Sir J. G. Ward moved, and Sir W. J. Lyne seconded, a vote of thanks to Mr Lloyd-George for his courtesy and ability iu presiding. The motion was carried unanimously.

Sir-J. G. Ward said lie hoped the.se conferences would be held at reasonable intervals..

Mr Lloyd-George said he hoped the next ■would be Imperial, embracing all the selfgoverning colonies.

Mr ! Lloyd-George will entertain all 'the delegates at a banquet on Friday.