OUR SHIPPING LAWS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 4 October 1901, Page 4

OUR SHIPPING LAWS.

[OOK PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER.]

Wellington. This Day. A l'ir"e number of amendments in the law relative to shipping and seamen .is proposed in the consolidating measure ■which was read a fir=t time in the House yesterday. It shall be administered by the Min : - ster of Marine and the powers formerly given to an officer of the Customs or the Superintend ant of the Mercantile Marine for enforcing compliance with ihe Act are extended to any surveyor of ships. The Minister is empowered to appoint a chief surveyor of ships for «the colony Increased powers arc given to Marine Inspectors and it.is,made a penal offence for anyone to roluse to attend and give evidence when summoned by such on Inspector., . A restricted limit engineer must be carried on a vessel propelled by gas, oil fluid, electricity or other mechanical power than steam plying within river or extended river limit. _ With regard to examinations for certificates it is provided that where a report appears to have been unduly made The Minister may remit the case cither .to the reporting examiners or any other "" examiners and may require a rexamination of the applicant or a further cnciuiry into his testimonials and character before granting tim a certificate. A Lieutenant, sub-Lieutenant, navigating Lieutenant, or navigating snb-Lieu-tenant in the Royal Navy, or of Lieutenant in the Indian marine service, is to ho entitled to a certificate as master of a foreign-going ship without examination, and an engineer or assistant-engineer in either of those services is entitled to a certificate as first-class or second-class engineer without examination. Provision is also made for apprenticing to tho sea service inmates of Industrial Schools, the minimum age at which such boys may be appointed is fixed at fourteen years, 1-:

With respect to the engagement of seamen abroad, it is provided that if the port is a British possession, the master must engage the seamen before a superintendent or an officer of the Customs. Where there is a British Consul officer, the master must procure tlic sanction of that officer and engage the seamen before him, and sucb sanction must be endorsed on the agreement. The rating of seamen as A.B. may be provided by certificates of discharge, or by a certificate of service, frpm a superintendent specifying on it the kind of vessel it was rendered on.

A man shall not be entitled to rating of “ greaser ” unless ho has served at least three months as fireman in the home and foreign trade, nor as fireman unless he has so served at least three months as trimmer, or has served at least three months as fireman in a registered steamship plying within restricted limits, or has served at laast three months on land as an engine driver or fireman. In order that facilities may bo given for remitting wages and money of seamen and apprentices to relatives or other persons, the Minister is empowered to make arrangements with the PostmasterGeneral for seamen’s money orders to be issued by the post office. Inquiry must he made by tlie superintendent into accidents as well as deaths occurring on a voyage.

Provision is made for the keeping of l an official log by the chief engineer of a steamship. The Minister may appoint a registrar of seamen whose duty it will be to keep a register of all persons who serve in ships. Pleasure yachts, missionary ships and fishing boats are exempt from certain provisions of the measure. The Governor-in-Council is empowered to make regulations respecting the loading of any British ship with any grain cargo in bulk and until such regulations are made, it shall be unlawful to load any British ship with grain cargo in bulk.

Provision is made for the rehearing of marine investigations in certain cases. The liability of ship owners for loss or damage is defined and a limitation in case of loss of life is also defined. All shipping is to bo registered by a registrar of ships appointed for tho f impose.