TRADE COMMISSION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1687, 1 March 1913, Page 17

TRADE COMMISSION.

SHIPPING LAWS. (By TolcEraph.—Press Association.) Dunedin, February 27. Giving evidence before tlio Empire Trado Commission, Mr. William Belcher (general secretary of_ the Seamen's tJmon)i in'spcaking of shipping conditions in New Zealand, said that generally speaking, the condition of seamen in. New Zealand and throughout Australia was fairly good, as compared with that of European countries, but there wcro numerous difficulties hero, and what New Zealand seamen considered injustices. Thero was unfair competition of low-paid, and in some cases badly-paid, crews on European vessels, and there was tho possibility—it had' already, occurred— of the invasion of New Zealand shipping trado by vessels manned by lascars and coolies.' The only remedy ho could suggest, and he had suggested it both to tho New Zealand Parliament and to Parliamentarians in Australia, was that there should bo an alteration in the constitutional law of New Zealand, giving tho local Parliament power of legislating for its own shipping, which at ■ tho present time'had to run the risk of the Imperial veto. 'Ho wished coastal, intercolonial, and ocean trade to bo governed by colonial law. Every vessel living a foreign flag that came into competition with locally-owned vessels should bo made to comply with tho industrial conditions, which were fixed by law in so far as local companies were concerned. What he wanted to seo was that the local Parliament prevailed in respect to ships touching New Zealand and Australian shores. ■ A 1 good many vessels not subject to Australian or New Zealand law visited New Zealand. Ihey lugged coal from Newcastle to New Zealand, and took cargoes back to Australia also. Tho P. and 0. Company,- whose vessels were manned by Lascars, now sent in boats to Auckland to pick up- passengers. If vessels. had Lascar crews, and -brought cargo from India to New Zealand there was no objection to the vessel taking cargo from New Zealand to India. It was only when these vessels came into competition with white-manned vessels on tho New Zealand- and Australian coasts that objection was Taisetl. He regarded trade botween Sydney and New Zealand I as coastal trade, but he did not consider '\ trade botween London and Port Chalmers i -oastal trade. Some parties might reel vrd tho London-Port Chalmers trade as cii istal, but ho would not do so. 'He regai ded it as oversea trado. Tno trade relation between India and New Zealand wasv a l so oversea trade. He was aware of ti' le "sk 1' alterations were madean navigation'laws of straining treaty obligations between nations. He recognised, too t'J '-at there was a difficulty in the way of 'allowing colonial legislators to enact laws for 'tho government of their, s'ft ipping; but Canada had token it into lieiA own hands, and, ignoring tlio Imperial v'o to, had said, "Wo will enact out own shipping legislation." If Canada could do \it» 1 10 did not see why Australasia coui'A' not do tho same thing. He (irmly hel d that ships with Lascar crews should not ,i bo allowed to trade with New Zealand-ow.n ed vessels that had to pay tlio colonial rato of .» . • •• To Mr Ctfi As to legislation, it onlv meant si for New Zealand so 'far as local' shipping regulations wero C °To e SU-Eider 1 laggard: His objections in a general way eA tended to tradm,, between Australi s™ and Great Britain. While he objected ""L 5 want anv legislation in \^ ie ; He u anted to see the inter A ts of local peopleprotected, and he want. 3( 1 t° it done f tho reason that Nei * Zealand, and also Australia, had been 'very much troubled in building up what ™ght_ be , the best industrial condition in the faring men, and they cl not ™ nt to sre that taken away. ~ The chairman asked if " l ® moro witnesses, and tlier 0 sponse, the Dunedin sitting * ' The members of the Coa^ 11115 ®I®®1 ®® P., * ceod to Christchurcli to-inre " row "J second express.

Christchurch, FA\™iry 28. The members of the Empire. \ ratio Commission arrived from Dunedin. Thoy will hold their first sitting " ere morrow.

I)r. Konald Burrows, rofeasor of Gropk in llic TJni of .-"J 1111 ! chcsi'er, has been appointed Vrinci.pt u of King's College, London. For ten ho was Professor of Greek at UnivM lt >' College, Cardiff. Ho is the son o»t ft arid married a ol" \M*» .jUdjcevay, Bishop ot Chichester.