NEW ZEALAND SEAFARERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13896, 7 May 1907, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND SEAFARERS

CHAT WITH MR \Y. BELCIIEIt (From Our Owx Coiirespondekt.) LONDON, March 28. In tho smok.i-j'ooni of the House of v Commons last Tuesday evening I camo a/jross Mr \\. IJoicher. socretarv of the New Zealand Seamen's Union, wlio was in the 'company of Mr .J. Ifaveloek Wilson, M.president of tho National Sailors and Firemen's Union of Great Britain, they had r.at together at the Navigation Conference at the Foreign Ofiice thru day, and Mr l.elcher told me he thought there was strong probability that (lie interchange of ideas between the Australian and New Zealand representatives with the imperial authorities would result in improving the conditions generally of the seafaring classes both at Home and in th colonies. Mr Belcher did not feel at liberty to say anything about the proceedings at the conference, but he had no objection to talk about seafaring conditions generally,

"One tiling- that his (.truck mo here," (.aid JJr Belcher, "is the disparity in wages throughout Great Britain. To my .mind it appears somewhat curious that different rales of wages arc paid at different ports, and in my opinion a uniform wage. based on equity, is npt only reasonable but desirable. And I have been disappointed to find that while the seafaring industry is of such vital importance to the Empire, and while I here is necofflity for ships to be manned by Britishers, the custom apiiears to be on the increase of engneing crews for British ships ;tt (,'ontinenlal ports. And the tendency to man ships with Lascars, Chinamen, and other alien raccf. also appears to be on the increase. Therefore, so far as one can gather. notwithstanding statements to the contrary, British seamen seem to lie a declining quantity so far as numbers are concerned, at anyrate. There will, I think, be little use in trying to attract the British hoy to sea until conditions, so far as accommodation, food, and wages arc concerned, are improved. From what I can gather there is a desire at the prosent time oil the part of the present Liberal Government lo make improvements so far as is consonant with the requirements and conditions of ether countries. I can readily understand that in a country like Great Britain, where shipping industries arc of fitch enormous proportions, ul?o lie.iring; in mind the competition that British shipowners have to meet from foreign countries, that reform* must be comparatively smaller than would he the case in New Zealand or Australia." How do seamen's conditions compare here with those in Xew Zealand? "As a mutter of fact," replied Mr Belcher, " I have had 110 opportunities since I arrived of visiting British ships and making comparisons. But we are

both governed by practically the 6amo laws as lo accommodation. Ilowovor, I am pleased to know that the last. Shipping Hill passed by tlie British House of. Commons increased llie minimum cubic space for crews from 72ft, to 120 ft. That bill became an act which comca into operation on June 1 this year. Now, that, is an improvement, on the conditions that prevail in New Zealand, the Shipping Act' of which country allows a minimum of 72ft and a maximum of 120 ft. So in this respcct Groat Britain is ahead of progressive New Zealand. And it will devolve upon New Zealand seamen to see tlmt their net. is amended as soon as' possible in that, respect and fo bring it tip to the standard of English law."