CONTROL OF SHIPPING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1859, 19 September 1913, Page 4

CONTROL OF SHIPPING.

AN AMENDING DILL.

A Bill to amend tho Slapping and Soamcn Act, 1908, was introduced into the Houso of llepresentatives yesterday b.v tlio Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, Minister for Marine. . Further proposals to rogulato tlio navigation of small boata from hvo tons register upwards plying 011 a rivor or in a harbour, or within other restricted limits, by requiring thorn to 1)0 navigated by masters with certain qualifications are contained in the Bill. Also it is proposed that, tlio engine-room or a steamship plying within river limits may bo in charge of a third-class engineer. ; The superintendents at the principal ports of New Zealand a,re to bo empowered to engage seamen for any ship lying r\t any port which, in their opinion, is an outport, if requested to do so b.V tho master or agont of the ship. 'If tlio superintendent is provided with tlio necessary funds ho may expend such of the money as may bo necessary in defraying the cost of sending the men to their Bliip. If man so engaged fails to join his Bliip 110 makes himself liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month. Failure on tho part of the master to supply provisions according to a schedulo of tho Act is to be made an of-* fenco punishable oil summary conviction, by a fine not exceeding £100. He also required, as under tho present law 1 , to pay compoiißation in cases of sup., plying bad or short provisions. It is proposed that ships solely iii fishing or whaling, pleasure yachts under twenty-fivo tons, register, missionary ships, ships in distress, and ships putting in to refit or for water • and provisions, or steamships calling at any port for coal for consumption on' board only, shall not bo liable to pay light dues.