WAR RISK AT SEA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 11, 8 October 1918, Page 6

WAR RISK AT SEA

COMPENSATION FOR ACCIDENT OR LOSS. i A discrepancy, owing to war risk, at present exists between tho conditions relating to officers and seamen trading in New Zealand and their dependants, and the conditions prevailing in Great Britain. The position in Great Britain is this: The Imperial Government in 1915 brought into operation a compensation scheme wherein is laid down the amount of compensation each individual is entitled to who meets with a war risk accident. That scheme provides ■ for compensation in case of injury,, death, or loss of effects. A motion was recently passed by the New Zealand section of the Merchant Service Guild of Australasia, demanding that the articles of all New Zea-land-owned ships should be endorsed with a similar compensation provision to that existing in Great Britain. The Union Steam Shi]) Company has adopted the scheme, and all its ships' ( articles are being endorsed accordingly. This, of course, creates a greater feeling of confidence on the part cf those interested. In the case of small shipowners, however, whose vessels trade in New Zealand waters, no definite result in the direction referred to has yet eventuated. It may be explained that as to tlie small shipowner who does not Mony to any association connected with the Imperial compensation scheme, it is a much more difficult proposition for him to accept this responsibility, and therefore these shipowners have annroached the Government seekiinfits

aid. , The Merchant Service Guild is arranging for an interview with the Minister of Marine, in conjunction with Mr. Pryor, secretary of the Shipowners'' Federation, and Mr. Wallace, secretary of tho Institute of Marine Engineers, with tho object of coining to some settlement, and, in the meantime, a motion has beon passed by tho guild to the effect that owing to the absence from Wellington of the Minister of Marine, further action bo held in abeyance till Monday next.