24

A.- 5a

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS OF THS CONFERENCE

Sir JOSEPH WARD : I think if the section of the New Zealand Law were embodied it would answer. We provide that if three of the crew complain, there must be examination. We provide- that under Clause 116, which says, " In the case of ships trading or going " from any port of New Zealand through the Suez "Canal or round the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn, "the barrels of beef and pork, the preserved meat and " vegetables in tins, and the casks of flour or biscuits " intended for the use of the crew of any such ship "shall be inspected by such officer and in such manner "as rules under this section direct, but before ship- " ment whenever practicable, and if in the opinion of "the inspecting officer they are fit for that use, he ••shall certify the SUM accordingly." And then it goes on to say, "The inspecting officer may at any "time proceed on board any such ship to ascertain " whether the stores and water provided have been duly " inspected." Sib WILLIAM LYNE : What you are reading is what I want as a general thing. Mb. NORMAN HILL : You contemplate an inspection for a round voyage. We have provided inspection for our round voyages. Both the Australian and New Zealand Bills clearly contemplate inspection for a round voyage. But it wu'uld clearly be most unreasonable for our Board of Trade to inspect the provisions which had passed your standard. Sir WILLIAM LYNE : I don't think so. The CHAIRMAN : Mr. Hughes suggests a time limit: what time do you suggest'.' Hon. W. M. HUGHES : I certainly think that stores should be examined at least every six months. Mr. HAVELOCK WILSON" : Every 12 months. Mr. FERN IE : I don't see how we can provision our ships. Sir WILLIAM LYNE: I propose the same as the New Zealand Act, that is for vessels going north, if that route were added—l don't know why routes should be added myself. Hon. W. M. HUGHES: No, because she might come through the tropics before she got to Australia. Either don't agree, or put a limit. Sir WILLIAM LYNE : I don't like a limit; I think we ought to be unrestricted. I can well understand shipowners not wanting anything done. They, no doubt, will do what they think good to oppose. But we are living on the other side of the globe, and we have to look after our people there. Even though you may send your ships with all good intentions, you do not know what may transpire in hot climates. We should have absolute power to inspect if we desire to do so, and I hope the shipowners here do not think that Australia wants to do all she can against shipowners. She doe's not. She doesn't consider the shipowners a bit in the matter. We consider the public of Australia, and, therefore, I think we ought certainly to give fair play to the shipowners; but we do not desire to interfere with them. The CHAIRMAN : These are British crews. We don't mind Australia protecting her own. Sir WILLIAM LYNE : The crews are often changed in Australia. Mr. PEMBROKE : I think with our crews, where the provisions have been inspected they should stand good unless there is a complaint on the part of the men. The men never fail to complain when there is anything wrong. Hon. W. M. HUGHES : How are they to know to whom they are to complain? Mn. NORMAN HILL : Under the Act of last S,-ssion we are bound to conform with our Law. Bib WILLIAM LYNE: I do not think any shipowners in the best class of company would attempt to do anything wrong. Some companies may not conform to the Act, but I don't think the best class would do that. At the same time, we have a trust. Hon. W. M. HUGHES : The shipowners might not know what kind of provisions to provide.

Mr. NORMAN HILL : We have had some experi ence It would be very hard for us to provision our ships here for a round voyage in accordance with the inspectors here, and then have those provisions rejected because they are not of some particular brand or grade. Of course, if there is any question of unwholesomeness. let them be condemned at once. Hon. W. M. HUGHES : I shall move " upon com- " plaint" or "at the expiry of a period of six months." Sir WILLIAM LYNE: I think we ought to reserve the right altogether. Mb. BELCHER: I quite agree with Sir William Lyne that we should have the right to inspect whenever we think proper. Mr. FERN IE: How would you apply that provision to foreign ships ? Sir WILLIAM LYNE : We have the right all round. I think the shipowners should trust Australia a little bit. Mr. FERN IE : We don't. Mr. NORMAN HILL : What we are nervous about is how you can enforce it against foreign ships. Sir WILLIAM LYNE : Unless there is something unconstitutional, or some illegality in our doing it, il will be done with foreign ships. Mr. NORMAN HILL : Yes, if you do it they won't be able to hit you back, but they will hit us back all over the world. If you enforce regulations on a German boat which Germany resents, she won't hit yon, but she will hit us. Hon. W. M. HUGHES : They are better looked after on some of the German boats than they are on ours. Sir WILLIAM LYNE: I quite agree to an expression of opinion from the Conference that it is not a wisething to harass the shipowners, but we must under certain conditions reserve the power. Sir JOSEPH WARD: How would it be if diis were put in. "that in the inspection of stores and provisions "in Australia and New Zealand, the standard of quality "be accepted as sufficient." The CHAIRMAN : We might say :— " That provisions on British ships which have already been inspected and passed by Imperial officers be exempt from further inspection in Australia and New Zealand, except upon complaint, or unless the authorities have reason to believe that such inspection is necessary." Hon. W. M. HUGHES: How can they have- reason to believe, except upon complaint ? Mr. COX : That is the question I asked, and Sir William Lyne told me they were very cute and knew Mr. HAVELOCK WILSON : That still gives our men the right to complain. Sir WILLIAM LYNE i I would not like to see that done away with. The CHAIRMAN : Do you agree to that? Hon. W. M. HUGHES: I don't see what it means, but I will agree to it. The resolution was then put to the meeting, and carried unanimously. Aiternoon Session. The CHAIRMAN : The next point on the Agenda is {>>) Accommodation, Ventilation, and Conveniences, and I do not know whether we will take Manning at the same time or separate. Sir JOSEPH WARD : I think we had better take it separately, and I propose, in order to fix the discussion, to move a resolution :— " That the accommodation, ventilation, and convenciences of ships owned in Australia or New Zea land, or engaged in the coastal trade, be subject to the local shipping laws."