THE SHIPPING LAWS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2943, 1 December 1916, Page 5

THE SHIPPING LAWS

DEMAND FOR AUSTRALASIAN UNIFORMITY. . A deputation' from the Executivo Council of tho Federated Seamen's Union of New Zealand waited upon the Minister of Marine (the .Hon. Dr. M'Nab) yesterday. Recently a delegation from tho New Zealand Union went to Australia to the Commonwealth Federated Seamen's Union, and at that conference a resolution was passed authorising' both unions to approach their respective Governments to ask for amendments to the laws affecting shipping .to ensuro smooth, working in regard to arbitration awards and tho maritime laws. Tho deputation spoko to Dr. M'Nab especially about tho shipping law, having previously addressed the Minister of Labour concerning the Labour matters. Mr. W. T. Young pointed out that there were ships, some registered in New Zealand and some registered in Australia, engaged in. exactly tho same trade, but on these different classes of vessels the crews worked under different conditions. The union asked for a uniform shipping law to apply to all ships trading between' Australiaand- New Zealand, whether,- the ships wero_ registered or tho articles taken out in Australia or in New Zealand. A similar request was being made in Australia. Li order to bring about these uniform maritimo laws thoro would havo to bo a, conference of shipping companies, seamen's and stewards' unions, and the Governments and all bodies interested on either side of the water, to draft a complete measure to be passed later by both Governments. _ Mr. W. Belcher supported ' Mr. Young's request that some steps should be taken W secure uniform shipping laws for Australia and New Zealand. Ho protested also against the retention in the Shipping Act of the clause giving tho Minister of Marino power to suspend practically : the whole of. the Act. Ho' regarded this clause as iniquitous. No such arbitrary power to abrogate laws should bo given to any ono man. Dr. M'Nab: How did they get over that difficulty in Australia in the new Act? Mr. Young: They sot up a Marine Council, consisting of representatives of tho Government, the deck officers, tho engineers, and tho seamen. Mr.. Belcher advocated tho setting up of a similar body hero. Dr. M'Nab, in reply, said that the matter was ono requiring extensivo legislation. In Australia, although their Act was passed and ready, they could not get it into operation. The war demanded all tho activities of tho Government, and it would not be easy to get. such a big Act through hero. Ho quite agreed with tho union that there should be uniform shipping laws in Australasia,' and that 'the broad essentials of it should bo considered by tho persons concerned. He would consult with his colleagues- as to whether it would be possible to arrango such a conference. But it would not bo possible to get any legislation on the Statute Book, or even before Parliament, until after tho war. Ho agreed that Clauso 57 was a drastic clause, and ono which ho did not liko to use, although ho had had to exerciso tho powers he had under it moro often than any other Minister of Marine. That, he presumed, could bo left to the conference, if such should bo set up. Personally he saw no reason why New Zealand should not regulate theso things as other countries did, but he believed that if ono could get behind tho scones at tho Board of Trade one would find that no moro mon were consulted thero than in Now Zealand.