NAVIGATION CONFERENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10960, 1 May 1907, Page 4

NAVIGATION CONFERENCE.

(Press Assn.— By Telegraph.— Copyright.) LONDON, April 30. The Navigation Conferenoe carried a resolution originally submitted by the Board of Trade and the Colonial Office, but amended /by Mr Hughes, recommending that any future Australian merchant shipping ■ legislation should v. contain express . provision safeguarding the obligation' imposed by any treaties m which the Australian and New Zealand Governments had concurred or may concur. Mr Cox, on-Vbehalf Of the. Colonial Office, stated that it'.vras' now' customary to provide every colony with an oppbrtvuuty of intimating its adhesion to or dissent from . a treaty.; They had the right to withdraw on twelve months' notice, and were also able to obtain favored nation treatment .vithout beiiig bound under the treaty if it extends to reciprocal treatment. The Board of Trade moved that all tlie Conference's . resolutions are understood to be without prejudice on the decision of the legal questions involved. — Sir William Lyne opposed this, on the ground that the- Conference's resolutions were not legally binding. — Sir Joseph Ward objected to the resolution. It really meant that the respective countries were obliged to await a legal decision before the Conference's resolutions would take effect. — The motion was withdrawn. V The Board of Trade moved that the obligations imposed by Australia and New Zealand on shipping registered •m the United Kingdom should not be more on-, erous than those imposed on foreign shipping.—Sir Joseph Ward declared that lie favored giving British ships preference. If the motion was passed it* might create a difficulty m obtaining the Crown's assent to oolonial legislation, ow^ng to] treaty rights with foreign nations.-^Sir Woi. Lyne thought the motion super? i fluous. He wished to give preference to British ships. — Mr Hill thought such kindly sentiments ought to be recorded-. — Ultimately, on Sir William Lyne's suggestion, the resolution was prefaced by the words, "It is desirable," and it was then carried.

A Board of Trade motion was .carried that with a view to uniformity the Australian shipping regulations should have regard to the Imperial sliipping regulations, and three months' notice should be given before they were enforced.

A Board of Trade motion recommended that iv the Aiistralasiah conditions imposed on vessels incidentally engaging m coastal trade m the course of their oversea voyage, care should be taken not to handicap those ve&sels. — Sir W. Lyne disagreed, not wishing to be tied down. — Mr Hughes did not desire to handicap British shipowners, but rather desired to handicap foreigners. — Sir Joseph Ward suggested the insertion of "needlei-sly" before "handicap." — Mr George suggested the. substitution of tha words "differentiate to their disadvantage as compared with j colonial register vessels" instead of the concluding words of the -resolution.— The suggestion, was adopted, and the amended motion was carried.

Sir Joseph Ward's motion was carried, that the Governments be ■ requested, to introduce legislation giving effect to the ConferentSFs resolutions. iMr Hughes's? resolutions relating to examination of officers and recommending the number of officers, be such as to enable the principle of. a four hours' watch and eight hours off "to rigidly observed, was withdrawn, after assurances., from the Board of Trade's expert that the matters were already covered. . Sir Joseph Ward moved, and Sir W. Lyne seconded, a vote .of thanks to, Mr George for his courtesy and .ability m presiding. This was carried unanimously. Sir Joseph Ward said he hoped these conferences would be held at reasonable intervals. — Mr George said he hoped the next would be Imperial, embracing all the self-governing colonies.