A SLIGHT MISTAKE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2090, 27 May 1907, Page 3

A SLIGHT MISTAKE

An amusing incident at the Naviga-

tion Conference is related by the correspondent' of ail Australian paper. A keen discussion took place over a resolution proposed by Mr. Belcher in opposition to the employment of lascars, coolies, and Chinamen on vessels owned, registered, or chartered to trade iii the Commonwealth or New Zealand. A representative of the India' Office was present to explain t provisions under which lascars are employed on British ships. Speaking broadly, lie said they could not retained beyond the latitude of 38'degrees north. When a captain reached that latitude he had to discharge and shii> lascars back to their port of embarkation, but, he added, temperature also counted in fixing the zone of employment. Therefore an isothermal line had been drawn, which excluded the British isles from this regulation, although portion of them were beyond 33 degrees north. No line had been

drawn in the Southern Hemisphere. The* colonial .delegates set to work to find what- Australian ports would be excluded by the.3B degrees south, and pitched upon Hobart; but the isothermal line, it was found, would save Hobart from exclusion. Sir William Lyne misconstrued the meaning of the word “isothermal.” “What!”'lie exclaimed, “ice? Where there is ice there should be no lascars.” The laces of his comrades lit up like a Hash, and they were ready to explode. The imperturbable gravity of Mr. Bloyd-Georgo and the Home delegates however, restrained them, and the proprieties were respected.