THE NAVIGATION CONFERENCE.

Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 11923, 1 May 1907, Page 3

THE NAVIGATION CONFERENCE.

Received April 30, 9. 19 p. m. London, April 30. The Navigation Uonference carried fi 'resolution originally submitted by the Board of Trade and- Colonial O/Htfos, btrt, amended by Mr Hughes roconimendjrig ady future Außtralasian merchant shipping legislation to Contain an express prohibition Safeguarding the. obligations imposed by any treaties in vvhich the Australian and New Zealand Gdvernmettta bad concurred, or anay concur. , Mr Oox, on behalf of the Colon lrtl Office,. stated .that it <vas now customary to provide every Colony with tm dppDrtutifty of intimating adhesion oi' diasQfit iroiti « treaty and aj ri«ht to withdraw cm twelve months' notice; a Colony was also: nblo to obtain "favored nation treatment without being under auoh treatment if ifc intends reciprocal treatment. 'Che Board of Trade moved that nil the Conference's resolutions are understood "to be without prejudice to the decision of any legal questions involved; . , Sir WY Lyn'e opposed ott the ground that the uonfere.noe's resolutions were not legally binding. Sir d\ Waid objected because the jesblution really meant that the respective countries were obliged to await legal decisions hefore the Conference's, resolutions could take effect. Tne motion was withdrawn. The Board of Trade moved that the obligations 2vn*P°B ed by Australia and New Zealand on shipping regis tered in the United Kitigdom should not be more onerous than those miposed on foreign shipping. Sir J. Ward declared that he favored giving British ships preference. If the motion passed it might create a difficulty in obtaining the Crown's assent to Colonial legislation owing to treaty rights of foreign nations. Sir W" Lyne thought the motion supevfluons. He wished to give preference to British ships. Mr Hill thought that such kindly sentiments ought to be recorded. Ultimately on Sir W. Lyne's suggestion a resolution prefaced by the words "it is desirable" was then carried. Received April- 30 9.51 p.m. j The Boarclgof Trde's motion 1 was car ried that with a view to uniformity the Australian shipping regulations should have regard to the Imperial shipping regulations and three months' notice should be given before they were enforced. With the Board of Trade's motion recommending that in the Austi'alas ian conditions imposed on vessel incidentally engaging ia the coasting trade in the course of an oversea voyage, care shouldjbe taken not to handicap those vessels, Sir W. Lyne disagreed, not wishing to be tied down. , - Mr Hughes did not desire to handicap BritisbJ shipowners, but rather desied to handicap foreigners. Sir J . Ward suggested the insertion of the word "neodlessly" before handicap. Mr Lloyd George suggested the substitutibnof 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 as amended, the motion was carried. Sir J. Ward's motion was carried that the Governments be requested to introduce legislation giving effect to the Conference's resolntions. Mr Hughes' resolntions relating to the examination of officers, also recommending the number of officers to be such as to enable the principle of four hour watches and eight off being rigidly observed was withdrawn after asaurancis from the Board of Trade's expert that these matters were already covered. Sir J' Ward moved and Sir W. Lyne seconded a vote of thanks to Mr Lloyd I George for bis courtesy and ability in presiding. Carried unanimously. Sir J. Ward hoped that these Con- , ferences would be held at reasonable intervals.

Mr Lloyd George hoped that the next would be^an Imperial Conference embracing all self-governing colonies. Mr Lloyd -George| gives a banquet to all delegates on Friday.