PERILS OF THE SEA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17143, 27 December 1929, Page 2

PERILS OF THE SEA

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE MELBOURNE, Dec. 6fcaptain H. J. Feakes, the Commonwealth naval representative, who attended the. international conference in London on safety of life at sea, has reported to the Federal Government that particular interest centred in exemptions claimed in the seas bodering the..north .arid east coasts of Australia. The Dutch and K-onch delegations sought powers'of exemption to vessels under their flag* from local control in certain Australian territorial waters. ' It was emphasissetl that the proposal would lower- the standard which had operated for many years in Australian ports find would bo a retrograde step inconsistent with the general object of the conference. A decision was finally reached to eliminate any exemptions to vessels in Australian territorial jurisdiction. In article 41, dealing with helm order, a drastic change was x made from the practice in British ships. The adoption tk the system which has been in. force in (Sermany end Scandinavian countries ior a few years was a surrender by the British representatives, apparently to obtain a quid pro ([uo of more -vital importance* to safety at sea. .