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1914. NEW ZEALAND.

MARINE DEPARTMENT: ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1913-14.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

My Lord, — Marine Department, Wellington, 29th July, 1914. I do myself the honour to transmit herewith, for Your Excellency's information, the report of the Marine Department of the Dominion for the financial year ended the 31st March last. I have, &c, F. M. B. Fisher. His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G., M.V.0., Governor of New Zealand.

Sir, — Marine Department, Wellington, 20th May, 1914. I have the honour to make the following report on the work of this Department during the year ended the 31st March last:— Shipping and Seamen Amendment Act, 1913. This Act has been assented to by His Majesty the King. It came into force on the Ist instant. The principal provisions of the Act are that a person holding a third-class seagoing engineer's certificate may be engineer of a steamer or mechanical-powered vessel plying within restricted limits; that Superintendents of Mercantile Marine at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Dunedin may engage seamen for ships lying at outports; that the Minister may appoint Inspectors of Seamen; that certificated cooks need not be carried by intercolonial ships; that vessels may be classified according to their construction and stability for the purpose of carrying deck cargo, that when a seaman of a ship registered in New Zealand, who was engaged in the Dominion, fails to join his ship before she sails, a Superintendent may accept from the master or may require the master to leave with him the man's wages, discharge, and effects, whereupon the man shall be deemed to be discharged from the ship; that ships of not less than 300 tons register which have been approved by the Minister as training-ships may carry a less number of able seamen than must be carried by other ships, and that the .Minister may exempt such ships from payment of light dues; that when a seaman is injured on board a ship or in connection therewith, necessitati]ig medical treatment, the master shall procure the services of a doctor, and, if the doctor so advises, send the man to a hospital; that the Governor may make regulations regarding the build, equipment, manning, inspection, licensing, and working of surf-boats; that in cases where a Superintendent declines to sue for the wages and maintenance of a sick seaman the man himself may do so; and that open launches plying for hire shall not carry cargo in the space allotted to passengers. Harbours Amendment Act, 1913. This is a short Act which was necessary to make provision for filling vacancies on Harbour Boards in cases where non-elective members cease to hold their seats before the expiration of the time for which they were appointed.

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