NAVIGATION LAWS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 869, 15 July 1910, Page 4

NAVIGATION LAWS.

' ' UNIFORMITY DESIRABLE. Regulation of inter-State shipping is touched upon as follows: by the committee of the Institute of Marino, Engineers in their report presented at the annual meeting:— The question of Commonwealth shipping laws is to be seriously considered by the Australian Parliament, and we trust the outcome will be satisfactory to all concerned, and that the reform effected will be on all fours with tho legislation in this Dominion. Also, there certainly should be a greater measure of protection for our Australian and' New Zealand shippins owners, and it should be made impossible for vessels to trade on the. coasts of the Commonwealth or- of the Dominion unless they subscribe to the conditions imposed upon our own shipowners. This legislation should also extend ,to vessels plying between Australia and New Zealand, and companies like the Union Stenm Ship Company and the HuddartParker Company, which run an interState trnde so well, should hayc protection against those who enter into competition. It is unfair that P. and 0. and other vessels should, with cheap labour, be permitted to exploit our territories, and we are prepared to work with the Institute ill Australia to do our best to have carried out the intention of the British Navigation Conference of 1907, which were clearly in the direction of protecting our shipping against unfair competition. The Australian and New Zealand Parliaments should formulate 'a similar set of conditions and a protective 1 trade for vessels trading between the two countries. Whilst we have a duty to perform to our members, we also have the rights of the employers to- consider, and in" considering them we are undoubtedly conserving the interests of the-Institute. We should all pull together on this very vital question. The sooner we start the better it will be for all concerned. Meanwhile,'the wish and hope of this district is that the legislation being considered in Australia will be such that the same conditions may obtain as with us. and thus avoid the difficulties that from time to time arise on account of the provisions of tho different Acta."