SHIPPING AND SEAMEN'S ACT

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1210, 19 August 1911, Page 5

SHIPPING AND SEAMEN'S ACT

(By TelecraDii—Press Association.! Dunedin, August JB. Iα the Supreme Court to-day, Mr. Justice -Williams heard an originating summons for the declaration of an order under the Shipping and Seamen's Act. The Union Steamship Company was plaintiff, nnd (.ho Minister for Marine defendant. The case cited was that in which a seaman, engaged for a period not exceeding 6ix calendar months, or until his first arrival at Dnnedin after the expiry of that term. The seaman was left on shcTe nt Dunedin on February 11, and .the period of six months expired on February 22, while the vessel did not return to Dunedin till March 4. The question to decide was the date of the- end of the agreement. His Honour held ttiat tho agreement terminated on the first arrival of the vessel after the expiry of the agree* ment. Another question submitted was whether the Superintendent of Mercantile Marine was entitled to deduct from tho deposit by the master or agent of the vessel expenses of maintenance and medical and other attendance of the seaman, where the said attendance was received in a private hospital,. boardinghouse, or his own home. On this point his' Honour decided that deduction could bo made only where treatment was received in a public hospital, but expressed the opinion that tho sooner tho law was altered the better. ■ ■ ~...-. -.