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RBPORT Of PROCEEDINGS OF I'll:-: OOTfFERENCE. •_'. British and Foreign Seamen. Motion by Mr. Belcher "that ibis Conference is opposed to the employment of Lascars, Coolies, chinamen, or persons of any other alien race on any vessel owned, registered, or chartered to trade in the Commonwealth or New Zealand." 3. Eyesight 'Tests. Motion by Sir Joseph Ward " that the Board of Trade be urged to take into immediate consideration the question of Eyesight 'Tests with a view to imposing a higher standard of efficiency than at present required." A. Compasses. Molion by Mr. Anderson " that the Board of Trade standard of compass efficiency as testified by current crrtifislnvll be accepted for British ships in Australian and New Zealand waters as being of the same effect as local certificate.-." 5. Payment of Seamen's Wages. Motion by Mr. Belcher " that it be a recommendation from this Conference to the Board of Trade to suggest that legislation he introduced whereby nil seamen be paid their full wages at every perl where the crew may desire the wages to he paid." 6. clauses in Articles of Agreement. Motion by Me-. Belcher "that it be a recommendation from this Conference to the Board of Trade to ascertain and investigate the various clauses attached by shipowners to the Articles of Agreement signed by the crews of vessels. 'This with the view of securing uniformity in this respect, unci also establishing the principle of equity as between employer and employed." 7. Motions by Sir William Lyne— (a) " that a scheme of compulsory insurance for seamen is desirable." (/.) Load Line (1) " that tin- North Atlantic mark should apply to ships leaving Australia, i-'m Cape Horn " ; (•1) " that it is advisable to have s light load line for ship, in ballast" (c) "that ell seamen he engaged only through a Government officer -the superintendent." (</) "that advance notes he abolished, and allotment noies restricted to relations only." (c) "that imprisonment for desertion he abolished." (/) "that the adoption of uniform legislation is desirable, with a view to extend the benefits of the Workmen's Compensation Ails to seamen." (g) "that third-class engineers having sea-service, on passing . practice*] examination, he permitted to qualify for higher grade certificates." (A) "that all vessels constructed after a oertain date shall.be fitted with water-tight o partments.' (,') "(hat all sea-going .-hips carrying more than passengers or being more than 5,000 tons gross measurement .hill he litteel with apparatus fm transmitting messages by means of wireless telegraphy." s. Resolutions of Conference, Motion by Sir Joseph Ward "that tin- imperial and Colonial Governments concerned he requested to introduce legislation to give effect to the resolutions of the Conference in oases where legislation is necessary."

'Tin: CHAIRMAN : I will explain to Mr. Belcher the reason why we have not put his motion first. The reason is thai the Secretary of State for India asked me- if ! could put it off for an hour so as to enable him to get a good man from the India Office to conic- hen Io represent the Department. If we get through tin- first in less than half an hour. WS shall have- to put it off again. I pro miseel to put it off for an hour. Siu WILLIAM LYNE: In the- report which 1 saw to-day, 1 think there is a mistake. 1 understood the resolution moved by Sir Joseph Ward yesterday, and voted fpr by the Australian and New Zealand delegates, was vote-el against by die shipowners; and I firmly under stood that the Colonial Office did not vote at all. 'The CHAIRMAN : No: the Colonial Office took no part in the voting. Sm WILLIAM LYNE: I'nless my ears deceived me. you declared the motion carried. The CHAIRMAN : I simply declared the fact; the Colonial representatives voted for it, the shipowners and tin Board of Trade representatives voted against it. The Colonial Office refrained, as they did not regard il as a matter within their Department. Mn. CON : I think it was my fault. We wore breaking up. and there was a good deal of confusion from people i ising from their places, and 1 intimated rather inaudibly to the President that we did not wish to vote upon that, but that we wished to remain neutral. Sir WILLIAM LYNE : I heard that. Mr. COX : And then I explained further after the Conference had risen, because I was not e:ertain that the President had heard what I said. Sin WILLIAM LYNE : It seems a little bit foolish to me as it is now. I wish to mention that I have seen Mr. Deakin with reference to one other matter. I asked him io _ee Sir Joseph Ward as to bringing a certain matter referred to yesterday before the other Conference,

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Tan CHAIRMAN : 'That is a matter for the other Conference. Siu WILLIAM LYNE: I told him what you said, and he thinks it is a matter I'm ihis Conference. I do not know whether he changed his mind aftei he spoke to Sir Joseph Ward. Tin. CHAIRMAN : I shall be very pleased t'i see him. with the Colonial Secretary, about it. Sir WILLIAM LYNE: I asked him to have a talk with Sir Joseph Ward about it. Tin CHAIRMAN : If they are all agreed to refer it to this Conference, very well, I do not object: but I should not like to do it without a conference- with the Colonial Secretary and Mr. Deakin. I am not sure- whether Canada would not care to have a voice in that matter. Hon. DUGALD THOMSON : She would. She is inter ested in the Pacific. 'Thk CHAIRMAN : I do not think we can do it without the presence of the Colonial representatives. Hon. DUGALD THOMSON : May I ask if the- raso lution as to what constitutes coasting trade- was actually put ' I'm: I'll AIRMAN : I was not here at the time. Hon. DUGALD 'THOMSON : I want to know if my protest of dissent was recorded. My dissent came at an earlier part, and if it was put afterwards. I do not recollect its being put: but I will not say it was not. I do not know whether my dissent was recorded. Mi: LLEWELLYN SMITH: The place for the recording of your dissent would be on the voting on Mr. Norman Hill's rider, which was that it was inexpedient to apply the Colonial laws to the coasting trade. Mi: NORMAN HILL: Mr. Thomson had left. I had to bring that up just at the very last moment with a view of getting it on the minutes, and, unfortunately, Mr. Thomson left before our innocent protest was made.