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REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS OP THE CONFERENCE

Sir WILLIAM LYNE : I do not mind. Tin: CHAIRMAN : Because, I take it, we have no objection so far as vessels under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth and of New Zealand are concerned. Mr. MILLS: What is your definition of "officer," Sir William 7 Does it include an engineer? Siu WILLIAM LYNE : I think it docs Hon. DUGALD THOMSON : Yes, it includes an engineer. 'Tin: CHAIRMAN : We are prepared to put that at once in the restricted sense, otherwise I should like it held over. Sm WILLIAM LYNE : Restricted sense in this way— I am epiite agreeable to that, because the other motion, when it comes on and is decided, will affect this. Tin. CHAIRMAN : "That no person shall be em--"ployed as an officer on board any ship or British ship " registered in Australia or New Zealand or engaged in " the coasting trade " Sm WILLIAM LYNE : You have put that in? The CHAIRMAN : To make it in the restricted sense. It makes it uniform in the other resolutions, in accommodation and manning, and so on—"who is not (a) a " British subject, and (o) thoroughly conversant with the " English language." Mu. NORMAN HILL: We do not like- it. In the restricted sense, perhaps, we have no right to criticize it. It will apply to an engineer picked up in a voyage by reason of death —a British trading ship may turn up in Australian waters, and possibly be chartered for the Australian trade. The CHAIRMAN : It is quite clearly within the sphere of their powers. Mr. NORMAN HILL: Perfectly. The Commonwealth are not asking our opinion with regard to "'hat they are enacting with reference to vessels under their jurisdiction. We have not got any business to criticize it. Sir WILLIAM LYNE : I would like it to be made specific. Hon. DUGALD THOMSON : The only thing is howfar we are to introduce these show motions. Sin WILLIAM LYNE : 'This is not a show motion Hon. DUGALD THOMSON : We have passed what covers that already. Sir WILLIAM LYNE : I do not think so. Hon. DUGALD THOMSON : Oh, yes. It enables us to decide the conditions of manning wi'hin our own sphere. Sir WILLIAM LYNE: I objected to that motion the mi meat I saw it. Hon DUGALD THOMSON : There are so many other things which come under " manning." However, the British law is now in accordance with that. The CHAIRMAN : Not "a British subject." We have got "thoroughly conversant with the English language" With regard to the provision that he should be " a British subject" there are difficulties over here. Mr. COX : That would prevent the employment of any inhabitant of a British protectorate. Supposing you found —I am only taking an extreme case a man

whose father was not a British subject, but who was born (the man himself) in France of an Australian father he would not be a British subject, but he would be an Englishman to all intents and purposes, and might havelived in Australia all his life, but technically he is not a British subject. Sir WILLIAM LYNE : He could be naturalised. Mr. COX : With all deference, I think you naturalise ve ry freely in some of the Colonies —for instance, in South Africa. Hon. W. M. HUGHES : We have never had anything like that. Sin WILLIAM LYNE: The very fact of our giving easier means of naturalisation removes all that. Mr. COX : You are so careful to stop it at the fount —you do not allow undesirables in, and therefore prima fmii if a man is fit to come in you consider him fit to be naturalised. Sir WILLIAM LYNE: That is so. Mr. COX : But other British Colonies that let these men in wholesale ought to be more careful. Sir WILLIAM LYNE : You cannot bring that against us. Mr. COX : No. Siu WILLIAM LYNE: We an- grumbled at the other way. The CHAIRMAN : I understand, then, the desire of the Conference is this. We do not feel that we have any right to interfere with what you have proposed to do. but at the same time, from our point of view, we could not say that we think it desirable, btcause if we thought it desirable we should enact it here. I mean we do not oppose it. It is not our business. Sir WILLIAM LYNE : I should like yo. to put the motion. 'Tin: CHAIRMAN : The Australian delegation are in favour ? Sir WILLIAM LYNE : Yes. The CHAIRMAN : And the New Zealand? Mr. BELCHER : Yes. Sin JOSEPH WARD: Mr. President, might I give notice- of motion : "That it be a recommendation to the " Board of Trade to consider the desirability of altering " the designation of ' officers and engineers' under the "term 'seamen' in the Imperial Merchant Shipping Act "to that of 'officers and engineers.'" In your law as it stands now "seamen" covers everybody except the master. In our Act it is as indicated in my motion. Hon. DUGALD THOMSON : Would not that be opening up the very question which was proposed to be opened under the head of "manning" and extending our discussion ? Sir JOSEPH WARD : The officers and engineers of our country want this done if possible. Hon. DUGALD THOMSON : I do not object to the thing itself; it is only the extension of the discussion that I objee-t to. Tin. ( HAIRMAN : I think that is about as far as we can get this afternoon. (The Conference adjourned to the following Monday, 11.30 a.m.) '