SHIPMASTERS ASSOCIATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8185, 17 July 1906, Page 5

SHIPMASTERS ASSOCIATION.

SPEECH BY THE PREMIER, WELLINGTON, July l(i. The Premier, Mr Hall-Jones was present at a meeting of the Shipmasters Association, to day, .nailed for the purpose of presenting the Association's Gold Badge to Mr Frank Bulkn, tho well-knowrt author and loolurer. Mr Hall-Jones, Jn rely to a toast, made a * speech having several important points. fie said he had been called upon for a time to succeed the late MrSsddon. Matters would go, on aa neaiJy as possible on the lines laid down by the late Premier. There had been an increase in revenue for the Jane quarter of £118,061, mado up principally as followj: Railways, £56.438; Customs, £19,614; Land Tax, £1,358; Income Tax, £2 5 04'2; beer duty, £783. The finances were. sound. The country was [.rasperous and Ministers were going to do all they could to keep it so. It would be necessary for New Zealand to enter the fielrs with Australia in seeking trade for t-roduce in the. Eatst. Within the last few weeks, certain members of the Legislative Council had retired through their term of office having expired. For some time theie had been a controversy with regard to the constitution of the Upper Uhamber r whether it should be mended or ended. His own view waa that. in connection with the UpperHouse there should be at least an Advisory Committee, consisting of anything from twtlve to twenty members, without power ot initiative. He recognised, however, that the colony was not quite prepared for that, but he did think the time had arrived to consider what should be done to mend the Legislative Council. When he first entered Parliament one plank of his platform was that the Legislative Counoil should be elected fcy the House of Representatives, and after giving it considerable thought, and comparing the Droposal that the Council should be elected byithe electorates, he waq still of opinon that the best way was to have the election by the Lower House. It had not been considered advisable to make reappointments to,the Council, and the House should be afforded an opportunity to consider the matter . refore any further appointment were made. Mr "Hall J ones referring to the New Zealand Shipping and Seamen's Act remarked that with even alt the benefits of that Act he did not think they had yet gone far enough.! He believed tho minimum space for sailors' accommodation should be 120 ft. The Imperial Government had asked for a conference between delegates from New Zealand, Australia and the Old Country for the purpose of eoing into the general law concerning shipping and seamen throughout the whole of the Empire, so that there might be one common law. The New Zealand Government bad been asked to sand three delegates representing tho seamen, owners, and the Government, The invitation had been accepted, and the conference, if convenient, would take place in Apiil next.